Jay Rohr
Supergirl shows that spectacle can have a little substance. Not too much, though, as this is an action-packed carnival ride more than anything else. The flick carries on the cinematic course James Gunn has charted for DC, this time entering a slightly darker territory. However, Supergirl never loses sight of being a playful romp through lighthearted life lessons, delivered in a manner only a comic book can.
The movie begins with Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) doing a planet-to-planet pub crawl. Her solo dive bar celebrations are interrupted one evening by the arrival of Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley). It seems the young girl’s family was recently slaughtered by the ruthless Krem of the Yellow Hills; seeking revenge, she solicits aid from the dive’s various denizens. When things immediately go wrong for Ruthye, Kara can’t help but do the right thing, which soon has her involved in events she’d prefer to ignore. Consequently, when her beloved dog Krypto is poisoned by Krem, things become personal, and, racing against time, the two team up to take down the brigand.
Right from the get-go, Supergirl does a solid job establishing the stakes of the situation. Throughout their comic book history, Kara and her cousin have often run into the issue of being overpowered. In this scenario, there’s a literal ticking clock no punch can stop.
Furthermore, these elements are cleverly linked to more emotional facets. For instance, the ticking clock Kara constantly checks is a watch from her father, the only reminder she has besides memories. Supergirl cleverly weaves such extra information in as the movie unfolds, mainly through well-timed flashbacks. They never feel like interruptions, so much as a breather between brawls. The elements added then tug at the heartstrings, intensifying an already compelling story.
Still, the script by Ana Nogueira is careful with such tugs, pulling just enough to draw the audience into emotional alignment with the main characters. It never feels like the film is trying to force a point. Supergirl simply presents a variety of relatable emotions, most of which orbit notions of loss, grief, and depression — the ways they warp a warm world into a cold one.
Thematically, the movie echoes what Gunn already put forward in Superman (2025), specifically an aspirational embrace of optimism. Here, there’s a touch more darkness, as this film explores the way light survives when smothered by shadow. Whereas Superman explored how one gives hope to the world, Supergirl ponders how people give themselves hope when all else suggests despair. In addition, the film offers several refreshing feminist notions.
Largely adopted from the Eisner award-nominated comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, there are also shades of westerns, such as True Grit, peppered throughout the picture. Kara Zor-El is closer to a Clint Eastwood than a Clark Kent, not to mention Rooster Cogburn. And interestingly enough, that adds a shade of tragedy to the character.
Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) deftly shifts between presenting a shattered cynic and someone who is actually tearfully holding, protecting in her hands her last spark of hope in the universe. What’s more is that the film develops the character in ways that make her personality comprehensible as well as relatable. This intertwines with Eve Ridley’s (3 Body Problem) excellent portrayal of a fractured child descending a similar spiral. Essentially, it’s easy to understand where the two are coming from, and only the dead inside wouldn’t feel some empathy for the pair.
Unfortunately, those two get the bulk of any available depth. Krem, creepily performed by a perpetually swaggering Matthias Schoenaerts (Amsterdam), never really rises above a generic villain. That isn’t to say he isn’t instantly contemptible, especially given he’s essentially an intergalactic sex trafficker. The problem is that, although loathsome and vicious, Krem never nears anything remotely iconic. He’s the punching bag equivalent of a MacGuffin.
Similarly, Jason Momoa’s (The Wrecking Crew) Lobo feels underutilized to the point of being unnecessary. The character’s inclusion here seems more like fan service than anything narratively necessary. It isn’t that Momoa doesn’t embody the main man as well as fans have hoped, but his part in Fast X was nearer the unsettling, chaotic vibe the antihero is known for. This somewhat toned-down Lobo comes across more like a promise of seeing him again later, perhaps in something better fitting his dynamic as a parodic critique of grittier comic book characters.
Supergirl often soars when it comes to action. While Kara Zor-El conveniently encounters things that hamper her abilities, such constraints typically add to the audience applauding in joy when her full powers are finally on display. Instead of kicking-ass from the start, there’s a wonderful buildup that coincides with the character’s growth.
Visually, the action is energetic, captured with style, and engrossing. On one or two occasions, sights do get a tad muddled by CGI debris flying all over. Arguably, this showcases how Kara is the only one not flinching as shrapnel flies everywhere, but more often, these few brief instances are just a visual mess. Fortunately, the majority of the action is pure comic book gold, over-the-top displays that fulfill any power fantasy.
Director Craig Gillespie steers Supergirl right into the realm of popcorn pleasers. Meaningful as the themes may be, the movie is an entertaining action flick with some emotional depth. Supergirl delivers a touch of grit to the Silver Age sensibilities that James Gunn established in Superman. It isn’t enough to make matters dreadfully grim, but rather just the right amount to infuse a relatable melancholy into the movie. The story never gets bogged down in seriousness, though it does express an earnest message about keeping hope alive.
Thanks to Milly Alcock nailing the lead role, Supergirl is a crowd-pleaser, blending sentiment, humor, and action into a satisfying story. Whatever minor imperfections it has aren’t worthy of scorn, though I’m sure the disingenuous will amplify them to shake the heavens. Anyone who just wants a fun watch, though, will likely enjoy Supergirl.
