Snapshots of Jimmy Olsen #32: Sam Huntington

Source: Superman Returns (2006)
Type: Movies
For all its faults, Superman Returns does feature the actor who, for me, is the best - or at least the best CAST - live action Jimmy Olsen. Sam Huntington certainly LOOKS the most like the comic book Jimmy, and he acts like him too. Kind of a dork, but still a great photo-journalist who puts his neck on the line for the perfect shot. And his relationships with the rest of the Daily Planet staff are on point. He may not really get to be Superman's Pal exactly - Superman is too busy being Jesus to spend quality time with his comic book sidekick in that movie - but I think he IS Clark Kent's Pal. He's the one who embraces the returning Clark, goes out for drinks with him, gets him up to speed, shares his pain.

Huntington's version of Jimmy is one that I would have wanted to see go Elastic or Giant Turtle, you know? Is it weird of me to want to see a Superman movie focused on his friendship with Jimmy? One where Jimmy takes center stage? Imagine Superman III if (the right) Jimmy had gotten Richard Pryor's role (maybe with less "hacking"). That would still have been a Superman movie with too little Superman in it, but one I could have gotten behind nonetheless. Of course, this kid wasn't old enough to play the part yet (he was all of 1 when it hit theaters).

Sorry... that was a bit of a waking dream, wasn't it?

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