By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"SUPERGIRL: MORE MILD THAN MIGHTY
While Milly Alcock capably carries the cape as Kara Zor-El, better known as Supergirl, it's "Supergirl's" screenplay that ultimately lets her down.
Alcock brings plenty of attitude, vulnerability, and charisma to Superman's cousin, but those qualities are often buried beneath a whirlwind of noisy action scenes, uneven pacing and a story that never quite finds its groove. What should have been an exciting launch for one of DC's most iconic heroines instead lands somewhere in the middle of the superhero pack.
Directed by
Craig Gillespie (TV's "The Husbands") and written by
Ana Nogueira (TV's "Hightown") and
Jerry Siegel (TV's "My Adventures with Superman"), "Supergirl" has all the ingredients for a fun, cosmic adventure but never quite mixes them together into something memorable.
When Krem, (Matthias Schoenaerts, "The Old Guard 2") the leader of a group of space pirates leaves a young girl (Eve Ridley, TV's "Emerald") consumed by grief and Krypto fighting for his life after a poisoned attack, Kara/Supergirl (Alcock) embarks on a galaxy-spanning quest. It gradually becomes as much about justice as it is revenge.
The film races from one intergalactic set piece to another, introducing colorful characters, planets, and villains at such a frantic pace that little has time to breathe. For a movie built around a heroine carrying the weight of unimaginable loss, it surprisingly lacks heart, leaving viewers with lots of spectacle but not much to hold onto once the credits roll.
However, "Supergirl" isn't completely without its charms. Alcock makes Kara/Supergirl refreshingly rough around the edges instead of simply serving as a female version of Superman, and her chemistry with Eve Ridley who stars as the determined Ruthye, gives the film some of its strongest moments, as does Matthias. He's menacing enough without slipping into cartoon territory.
Then there is Jason Momoa ("Dune: Part Three") who looks like he's having the time of his life chewing scenery as the loud, swaggering Lobo, injecting much-needed energy whenever he crashes onto the screen.
Then when "Superman" (David Corenswet) makes his scene, he brings some humorous lines to the action too. But I completely fell for Krypto. The super-powered dog is downright adorable. Frankly, I'd happily watch a two-hour Krypto movie before sitting through another round of generic CGI mayhem.
The biggest problem with "Supergirl" is it feels like another chapter in the never-ending DC cinematic rebuild rather than a film confident enough to stand on its own. It spends so much time reminding audiences that this is all part of super producer James Gunn's shiny new DC Universe that it forgets to make the movie in front of us especially compelling. The action grows repetitive, the emotional beats rarely land with the impact they're aiming for, and by the finale, the film has become just another collection of explosions, flying punches and digital effects that begin to blur together.
With so many films dominating the summer box office--particularly this year's standout horror films and emotionally charged dramas--"Supergirl" feels surprisingly lightweight by comparison.
It's certainly watchable, and comic book fans will likely find enough to enjoy, but somewhere in all the cosmic chaos is a better movie that never quite escapes Earth's gravity."
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"SUPERGIRL"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
