Why did the tone of Superman II shift between serious and slapstick scenes?

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Christopher Reeve as Superman in a blue suit with red cape and yellow belt, flying with one arm forward against a dark background in a publicity still from Superman: The Movie. — Superman Christopher Reeve in *Superman* (1978), directed by Richard Donner.

The shift in tone in Superman II (1980) between dramatic and slapstick elements occurred because director Richard Donner was replaced by Richard Lester after production had already begun. This change in leadership mid-filming resulted in a narrative that transitioned abruptly between the two styles.1