Unlike last year’s Superman, Supergirl isn’t directed by DC Studios co-chairman and co-CEO James Gunn, but it lifts liberally from his popular Guardians Of The Galaxy formula. It’s set on various planets decked out in a lo-fi sci-fi aesthetic, and orphaned hero Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) dresses like Peter Quill/Star-Lord with her trenchcoat and headphones combo. The Krypton-survivor is also drifting through life until she’s dragged into a mission that gives her a chance to give a shit.
If you’re going to take inspiration from a Marvel franchise, it makes sense to pick one of the best. There’s plenty to like about Supergirl and most of that’s down to Alcock (House Of The Dragon, Sirens) as Kara. As the directionless Kryptonian émigré, she nails Kara’s CBA attitude and vulnerabilities as she approaches her 23rd birthday with few plans beyond an intergalactic pub crawl. Alcock knows her way round a one liner, and convinces when it’s time to shift into badass mode. Like Superman’s David Corenswet – who makes a pleasing cameo – Alcock is another spot-on piece of casting that bodes well for this iteration of the DCU. The rest of the film doesn’t always live up to her star power though.
Director Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, Cruella) seems at home with the title character’s punky energy, and brings some of that irreverent tone to the film itself. There’s a fair bit of humour, including an amusing riff on why she’s Super-“girl” while her cousin is Super-“man”, and the world feels grungily tangible. The story’s emotional beats – flashbacks to Krypton’s fate, Kara’s redemptive arc – are competently handled, if not deeply moving. It’s also refreshing that Supergirl – adapted from comic miniseries Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow by screenwriter Ana Nogueira – has relatively low stakes, as far as superhero films go. It’s a straightforward revenge story, as Kara links up with orphaned girl Ruthye (Eve Ridley) to seek vengeance and the antidote needed to save her beloved pooch, Krypto (another winning returnee from Superman).
The villain, Krem Of The Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), looks intimidating with his ball bearing-studded face, but isn’t given a chance to register much beyond that. He’s the leader of the Brigands, human traffickers who kidnap girls to propagate their all-male species. But they never really come to life. Turning up to periodically enliven proceedings is Jason Momoa, the former Aquaman now recast as “immortal with a god complex” Lobo, a cigar-chomping antihero biker, who seems less important to this narrative than he is an investment in the wider DCU. Still, he’s a blast whenever he shows up.
Supergirl could give us more in the action stakes too. The muddy VFX don’t do justice to Kara’s scraps, which often blur into pixel stew – and there’s still the niggling Super-problem with the overly powerful cousins, with Lobo similarly indestructible. It also doesn’t live up to Guardians in the ‘Awesome Mix’ stakes. Though the soundtrack features Wet Leg, Halsey and a bossa nova cantina band, it misses the trailer’s cracking ‘Call Me’ needle drop (despite the fact Kara wears a Blondie t-shirt). It’s symptomatic of a film that sometimes lacks oomph. Still, Alcock makes light work of an impressively imperfect hero and her performance is worth a watch alone.
Details
- Director: Craig Gillespie
- Starring: Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, Eve Ridley
- Release date: June 25 (in UK cinemas)