'Supergirl' Review: A Darker, Sadder Hero Than Advertised

The Supergirl cameo in last year's Superman, along with the film's trailers and clips, promised a fun ride with the hot mess that is Kara Zor-El. Instead, audiences get a surprisingly somber superhero with a cookie-cutter plot and action. While there are moments of fun, much of the film feels like a buzzkill.

Based on the DC comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the story follows Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), who is spending her 21st birthday alone with her dog, Krypto, on a planet with a red sun. When a young girl named Ruthye (Eve Ridley) begs Kara to help avenge her family's murder, Kara initially refuses to join the hunt for the killer, Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). However, when Krem steals Kara's ship and poisons Krypto, she reluctantly joins the mission.

Previous live-action versions of Supergirl leaned into the character's wholesome nature, so Alcock's portrayal brings a refreshing level of messiness and attitude to the role. It's an intriguing direction for the revamped cinematic universe. However, Kara's lonely and emotionally burdened existence, established early in the film, quickly dispels the party-girl energy that marketing materials seemed to promise. For audiences unfamiliar with the source material, this melancholy version of Supergirl may feel like a bait-and-switch.

Another downer comes in the form of a subplot involving kidnapped women being forced into marriage on Krem's planet. Intended to highlight the villain's brutality, the storyline only adds to the film's already heavy and unexpectedly bleak tone.

Directed by Craig Gillespie (Cruella, Lars and the Girl) and written by Ana Nogueira, the film frequently settles into a melancholy tone. The humor rarely lands, and many of the needle drops fail to complement the action. The villain, despite Schoenaerts' capable performance, is underdeveloped, while his gang of space pirates looks as though they wandered in from a Mad Max movie.

The influence of James Gunn looms large over the film. Supergirl often feels more like a Gunn production than a Gillespie one. The intergalactic adventure shares several similarities with Guardians of the Galaxy, particularly in its revenge-driven plot and soundtrack choices. Gunn has an ear for memorable needle drops, but the same magic never materializes here.

Gillespie is a talented filmmaker with a strong track record, but Supergirl rarely feels like a film stamped with his signature style. The action and story rely heavily on familiar space-adventure tropes, resulting in a journey that feels more like a retread than an inspiration.

The film's best sequence arrives early when Kara fights off space pirates attempting to rob an intergalactic bus. The action is inventive, the humor works, and Alcock's charisma shines through. Unfortunately, nothing that follows recaptures the excitement of that standout scene.

The one element holding the film together is Alcock's performance. Her reluctant hero gradually accepts her responsibility and discovers she is not as alone in the universe as she believes. While the character arc is somewhat hokey, some viewers may connect with her feelings of isolation and self-doubt.

As expected, Jason Momoa steals every scene as Lobo. Unfortunately, the character functions more as a series of entertaining cameos than a fully realized supporting player. For non-comic book fans, the lack of context surrounding Lobo may leave them wondering why everyone else seems so excited when he appears.

Who Would Like It?

Fans of the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic, viewers invested in James Gunn's new DC Universe, and audiences looking for a more emotionally driven superhero adventure may find plenty to appreciate. Those expecting a lighthearted cosmic romp based on the marketing, however, may be surprised by the film's heavier themes and subdued tone.

The Final Word

Supergirl boasts a star-making performance from Milly Alcock and a few entertaining action sequences, but its melancholy tone, underwhelming villain, and uneven execution prevent it from soaring. Despite its cosmic scale, the film never fully embraces the fun and rebellious spirit that initially made this version of Kara Zor-El so appealing.