To some extent, I agree with your assessment that Routh lacked some of Reeve's charm. That would probably be my main complaint. However, given that he was supposed to be sort of depressed for most of the movie I could discount that.


And I can 'pigeonhole an actor... to another's performance' where, as in the case of Reeve, that actor played the character exactly pitch perfect, how I think the character would be on every note.

In my mind, Reeve played Superman exactly how Superman would act if he was real. In my mind, any one who plays Superman truly successfully is going to play him like Chris Reeve.