SUPERGIRL
Starring: Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet, and Jason Momoa
Director: Craig Gillespie
QUENTIN
Though flawed, Supergirl manages to be on the right side of mediocrity thanks to a star-making turn from Milly Alcock and the always charismatic Jason Momoa. Frankly, they both deserved a better movie, and I look forward to seeing them again in the DCU as Supergirl and Lobo, respectively. However, this introduction feels like a Star Wars ripoff built on the bones of superhero movies’ most basic transgressions, namely bum villains, uninspired action sequences, and lame MacGuffins. Still, Alcock, with her IDGAF vibe, is so perfectly cast as the punk-rock heroine who saves the day that she nearly saves the movie too.
NICK
I know Superman’s (David Corenswet) inclusion in Supergirl was meant to drum up interest and boost ticket sales, but the main thing he does is shine a spotlight on this film’s inadequacies. Whether it’s the muddled and hard-to-follow action sequences (thanks to jarring and frantic editing) or the bland supporting characters (I’d lump Matthias Schoenaerts’ Krem in with Marvel’s weakest villains), everything is a stark step down. Sure, Milly Alcock works as the titular character once she finds her footing, but the film she’s stuck in feels so amateur. Worst of all, the creative team made me dislike a cinematic dog.
AMARÚ
There’s fun to be had in Supergirl, but it’s like the fun Kara (Milly Alcock) has on a week-long birthday bender: a sloppy blur of hazy shenanigans resulting in a forgettable mess. It’s hastily written, minus one scene that shows off Alcock and David Krumholtz’s fabulous acting. It’s hastily edited, with CGI-laden action shrouded in shoddy coverage obscuring much of what’s happening. And it’s hastily paced, moving way too quickly through way too many things in what should’ve been a heartfelt yet hard look at grief. At least we can look forward to seeing more of Alcock’s great chemistry with David Corenswet’s Superman in future movies.
ADRIANO
I hate to make a judgment call after two movies, but I’m uninterested in the DCU. I liked Superman, but it didn't get me excited about the future beyond that specific movie. And now, with Supergirl, whatever interest that existed is fully deflated. Milly Alcock does her best, but with a script that is both generic and feeling like a first draft, chopped up even more by horrid visuals and editing, there’s not much she can do. It’s an action-comedy that’s neither exciting nor funny, and it features a terrible villain (Matthias Schoenaerts). I’m over these movies, but this is especially rough.
ROBERT
So, almost one year ago, Superman hit theaters and banked teems of goodwill for itself and the future of the DCU. I’m unsure about James Gunn and Peter Safran’s mindset when they read the script for Supergirl and thought THIS needed to be the follow-up. I was bored to tears throughout as I didn’t care about Kara’s (Milly Alcock) or Ruthye’s (Eve Ridley) motivations for anything to get us through each act. The visual effects, the musical cues, some horrendous characterization…it all contributed to crystallizing a Kryptonite-infused dirty bomb that exploded and sent killer shrapnel into the heart of DC fans.
BODE
Remember when the MCU kicked off with Iron Man, getting audiences instantly excited about what the future would be? But then it was quickly followed up with The Incredible Hulk, which - at least - tempered that excitement? Supergirl is actually more like the letdown of Thor: The Dark World than Hulk, but you get what I mean. Milly Alcock certainly shines, and it’s not without some moments of resonance (like the Krypton flashbacks). But between its one-dimensional villains, muddled narrative, and generic action sequences, this simply goes through the motions to the point that it feels inconsequential. It’s not terrible exactly, just very disappointing.
PAIGE
Supergirl has all the right ingredients to be great, but unfortunately they never come together in a satisfying way. Milly Alcock is undeniably fantastic as the edgy Kara Zor-El, but the script ultimately holds her back. Don’t get me wrong, the flashback sequences were genuinely compelling, and I’m excited to see where Kara goes next. However, the story just kept running in circles, and the messy editing didn't do it any favors. The movie felt very by-the-numbers and seemed afraid to really confront its themes beyond its surface. I didn't have a bad time, but this character deserved a much stronger script to tell her story.
KATIE
Milly Alcock is excellent in Supergirl, but deserved a far better film in which she could truly shine. Her potential is dampened by the rest of the movie, which lurches from one messy action set piece to the next, driven by a poorly developed story that didn’t make me care about any of its characters. Despite what the frenetic editing and relentless needle-drops would have you think, the story is monotonous, so I was quickly bored. Plus, the CGI is bland and murky, and the dog looks uncanny, reminding me of AI-generated images. I’d love to see Alcock return as Supergirl in a better film.
