“Supergirl” Is Better Than the Critics Are Saying – Review

This summer, the theater-going experience is unlike previous years, with a slew of major blockbusters coming out every weekend. Supergirl is the second entry into the new DCU under James Gunn and Peter Safran, and it seems, by the early review article titles, this is the worst superhero movie ever made. I am here to tell you that it is not.

Supergirl, based on The Woman of Tomorrow comic written by Tom King in 2022, was released this weekend. Blending practical special effects, emotional arcs, and solid performances, it is a worthy addition to the new DCU.

Milly Alcock plays Kara Zora-El as a disillusioned young woman who has lost her family and planet, with a level of ‘hell may care’ attitude not often seen on screen. Kara starts the film running away from her feelings and doing what she can to drink them away on a Red Sun planet, giving her the ability to get drunk.

While she is on a stop on her birthday pub crawl around the galaxy, she meets Eve Ridley’s Ruthye. Ruthye seeks revenge on a group that killed her whole family in front of her, for the fun of it.

Kara wants nothing to do with Ruthye and her quest for revenge until her puppy, Krypto, is poisoned. She goes on a quest to track down Matthias Schoenaerts’s Krum, who is the only one with the antidote to save Krypto, but Ruthye tags along, much to Kara’s dislike.

For me, the emotional core of the movie is what seeking revenge does to your soul. Kara attempts to do everything she can to stop Ruthye from becoming like her, a jaded person with regrets and no direction.

It seems to me that many of the critics and movie talking heads were expecting something else from this story and missed the point, or at the very least, refused to leave their preconceived thoughts about the movie at the door. I love to speculate about what a story could be, but then leave those ideas at the door, and engage in the story being told.

This film isn’t the best superhero movie of all time. And that is fine. It was an interesting story to watch on the big screen. The effort put into the special effects, both digital and practical, was very well done. Better than some other DC Comic entries in the past.

Milly’s character arc is played with balance and a bit of understanding that Kara is two different people throughout the movie. She has a different view of her life compared to her cousin Clark. Where Clark finds the best in everyone, Kara sees what she thinks is the truth: most everyone is terrible. However, she still does what is right, protecting the weak and helping those in need, even if she may take those actions too far.

I liked seeing Jason Momoa’s Lobo on screen, even if I wanted to see more. At times, he felt a little shoehorned in. He is the levelity the movie needs. I wonder how he will be received, hopefully well, because a full movie or series could be fun, in an off-the-wall type of way.

Overall, I gave this a 7.5 out of 10. I really liked it; I need to see it again to get my thoughts fully wrapped around it. But this 100% not the dumpster fire of a movie as many critics have determined it to be.

Have you seen the movie? Are you playing too? Let us know in the comments.

Author: Sean Miley

I’d rather find the things that I like about a story, movie, or tv show, than lead with negativity. I love Star Wars, Doctor Who, MCU, comic book and conventions.

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