Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story Christian Review

Christopher Reeve. The man who wore a cape and flew across our screens in Superman seemed invincible, right? It’s so easy to attach those heroic qualities to the actor behind the role, to blend the fantasy and the reality. But then, life happens. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story takes that very idea—of heroism, of resilience, of the human spirit—and flips it. Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, the directors, tell Reeve’s story in a way that’s tender, yes, but also honest. It’s not all glorified perfection, nor is it tragic for the sake of drama. It’s real. And real, as we all know, is a lot more complicated.

A Hero Brought Down to Earth

The first thing that strikes you about this documentary is that it doesn’t treat Reeve like he was some untouchable saint. It’s tempting to cast him in that light, especially after his accident. A fallen hero, a paralyzed man who had once played Superman himself. That narrative would be easy, but it’s not the one this film chooses.

What makes this documentary compelling is its insistence on reminding you: Reeve was just a man. He wasn’t from another star, here to save humanity. He was flawed, he was frustrated, he was resilient in ways that don’t fit the Hollywood definition of a hero. And in a way, that’s more inspiring. His strength, as it turns out, wasn’t in his muscles or his jawline or even in the cape he wore on screen. It was in his ability to keep going, to hope, to stay kind. There’s a kind of grace in that—Christian or otherwise.

A Life Before and After

The documentary isn’t just about the accident that paralyzed him, though of course, that’s a central focus. There’s an exploration of his early career, his family life, his activism. The directors do a good job of painting a full picture of Reeve, not just as an actor or a man confined to a wheelchair, but as a son, a father, a friend, a public figure. It’s all layered, as real lives are.

And yet, when it does get to the accident, it’s gut-wrenching. You can’t help but feel the sharp contrast between the image of Superman—flying, indestructible—and this man, who can no longer move from the neck down. The film doesn’t dwell on the tragedy for the sake of emotional manipulation, though. It’s not interested in pity. Instead, it focuses on what came next.

Hope Amidst Hardship

What makes Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story stand out is its emphasis on hope. It would have been easy to make this a dark, somber film. After all, the central figure experienced one of the most devastating physical setbacks imaginable. But the filmmakers seem to understand something deeper about the human spirit—and about Reeve himself.

There’s this recurring thread throughout the film, a sense that even in the darkest moments, there’s light to be found. It’s not the kind of over-the-top, cheesy optimism you sometimes see in biographical documentaries. No, this is more grounded. It’s the kind of hope that comes after you’ve accepted reality for what it is, even when it’s brutal.

For Christians watching, this part of the story will resonate in a particular way. The idea that suffering doesn’t have to be meaningless, that there can be grace in the midst of pain, is a cornerstone of Christian faith. Reeve’s journey doesn’t scream out with theological undertones, but it quietly affirms these ideas. You see someone who, even when stripped of nearly everything, still holds on to love, kindness, and yes, hope.

Family as a Pillar

An unexpected and powerful aspect of the documentary is its focus on family. Reeve’s accident didn’t just change his life—it altered the entire dynamic of his household. His children, his wife Dana, all became key players in this new chapter of his life. The documentary does a beautiful job of showing how his paralysis was, in many ways, a family tragedy. Yet, it also shows how that same tragedy brought them closer together.

There’s something deeply Christian about this. The way the family rallies around him, the way love becomes both a comfort and a burden, reflects the idea of sacrificial love. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t walk away when things get hard. Instead, it digs deeper, finds new reserves of strength. You see that play out in the way his family talks about him and the way they interact with him post-accident.

But the film doesn’t paint it all as rosy. There’s frustration. There’s exhaustion. There’s the reality that love sometimes feels like a duty rather than a joy. All of that is captured with raw honesty, and it makes the story feel more authentic, more relatable.

Activism Born from Adversity

After his accident, Reeve didn’t disappear from public life. Instead, he became an advocate for spinal cord injury research and disability rights. This wasn’t just a public-facing performance, either. The film shows how deeply he was invested in these causes, how his personal tragedy opened his eyes to the struggles of millions of others.

There’s a lesson in that for all of us. In Christian theology, there’s the idea of redemption—that even our worst moments can be transformed into something good. Reeve, through his activism, lived that out. His suffering wasn’t wasted. It became the fuel for a mission larger than himself, a mission to help others facing similar challenges.

For viewers of faith, this is an especially poignant part of the documentary. It’s a reminder that God can work through even the most devastating circumstances, that our trials can have a purpose beyond our understanding.

Final Thoughts: No Capes Needed

In the end, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story isn’t just about a man who once played a superhero. It’s about a man who became a hero in real life, not through superpowers but through resilience, compassion, and an unbreakable spirit.

For a Christian audience, there’s so much to appreciate here. Reeve’s story echoes with themes of hope, love, and redemption—all central to the faith. But even beyond that, it’s a human story, one that speaks to the universal struggle to find meaning in suffering, to hold on to hope even when everything seems lost.

Reeve’s life didn’t follow a neat, Hollywood narrative. It was messy, painful, full of unexpected turns. And yet, there’s a beauty in that. It’s a reminder that real heroism doesn’t come from flying or saving the world—it comes from facing life’s hardest challenges with grace and courage.

Rating: 8.5/10