I find it hard to write about Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie,because it’s a hard film to have strong feelings towards. On paper it has everything that sounds like the mixings for a fantastic time. An aesthetic that feels like if you took Mad Max Fury Road and mashed it with the cantina scene from Star Wars, a story that’s a (relatively) small scale revenge quest, and a focus on using practical effects and physical locations? I should be sold on this from the start. So color me surprised when I say that Supergirl is shockingly bland. At it’s best it’s a great showcase for Milly Alcock and how she has the chops to lead a summer blockbuster, at it’s worse it calls to mind the most middling of superhero films from the 2010s.
It has a promising start. We’re introduced to the titular character, played by a wonderful Alcock, as she spends her birthday week partying across the galaxy while ignoring calls to come home from her cousin Superman, David Corenswet once again. Meanwhile young Ruthye, an equally wonderful Eve Ridley, has started her revenge crusade after her family was murdered by Brigand leader Krem, played by Matthias Schoenaerts. It’s not long afterwards that they cross paths and join forces to hunt him down.
I’ll get it out of the way and say regardless of everything else, Alcock is fantastic as Supergirl. She’s endlessly charming and her performance makes me excited to see her return in future DCU movies. Ridley is also endearing and the chemistry she has with Alcock leads to some of the best scenes in the film. Jason Momoa also makes an appearance as Lobo and he feels more at home with this character than he did Aquaman and the film cranks up the fun when he’s on screen. But the real scene-stealer is Corenswet as Superman and while his scenes are fleeting you’re instantly reminded of why he’s a perfect iteration of this character.
But what about the movie itself outside the performances? You’ll be hard-pressed to remember anything else. There’s hints at a much better film here with scenes of Supergirl’s backstory almost playing out like a Greek tragedy mixed with a disaster film, and themes of wanting to protect the good that’s inside you from the realities of the world. But the rest of Supergirl falls pretty flat. Action scenes that are fun in the moment but don’t really stand out. CGI that’s serviceable but doesn’t wow. The film isn’t terrible but it’s the cinematic equal of seeing an amusing post online and exhaling slightly out of your nose instead of laughing.
Hopefully Supergirl is a fluke and the next DCU installment Clayface makes the case of why we should pay attention to a genre that seems to be in free fall right now. And hopefully Alcock gets her time to fly in a role that’s perfect for her in a movie more deserving of her talents.
2.5/5
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