“With a wafer-thin villain and a rushed third act, Supergirl still flies but feels like a step back, despite excellent performances from Milly Alcock and a movie-stealing Jason Momoa”
Forty-two years after first taking to the movie skies (apart from a CGI/ AI cameo in The Flash), it is time for Supergirl to take flight in movie theaters. The Girl Of Steel/ Woman Of Tomorrow has now returned. This time, she is in the guise of Milly Alcock. After her brief cameo in last year’s Superman, she now has her own standalone adventure. Stepping up beside her in this adventure are Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet, and Jason Momoa. Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, can Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (and, of course, Krypto the Superdog) take to the skies and hold her own? Or does the film never take off, hitting the ground with a crash?
THE PREMISE
Kara Zor-El celebrates her 23rd birthday by traveling across the galaxy with her dog Krypto. Along the way, she meets the young Ruthye Marye Knoll and encounters a tragedy that leads her on a “murderous quest for revenge”.
THOUGHTS
The film manages to fly high and become terrific entertainment in its own right. But, sadly, it feels like a small step backward after last year’s Superman. It could be the second movie syndrome for the new DCU. However, instead of being the superhero blockbuster of the summer, it comes across as yet another good movie and not a great one. To be honest, it isn’t helped by being a mixture of Mad Max, the second and third Guardians Of The Galaxy movies. There is also a smattering (briefly) of a fully costumed Supergirl thrown in. Even though the film is colorful, bright, and vibrant, with some incredible humor added, the pointless needle drops contained within drag the film down somewhat. In addition, with a rather poor score to boot, we don’t get the feelings of exilheration we should.
ACTION SEQUENCES
That’s not to say the action sequences are poor, because they aren’t. Once Milly Alcock starts fighting properly (you need to see the film to understand what I mean), the film suddenly takes off. It thrusts us into a fun adventure that will have the audience cheering and smiling from ear to ear. Once she finally dons the costume, the film ramps up the excitement. But even here, it almost comes to a shuddering halt before launching itself fully into the character and her abilities. In addition, depending on whether you don’t mind back-and-forth sequences set in the past and the present, the film may annoy you slightly. However, these past scenes, depicting Kara on Argo before her journey to Earth and her first meeting with her cousin Superman, are worth sitting back and watching. David Corenswet gets an extended cameo as the man of steel, and the scenes between the pair are welcome and enjoyable. It also gives us a vital insight into Kara and her alter ego.
MILLY ALCOCK
Despite the movie-stealing performance from a supporting character, this is Milly Alcock’s movie, without a doubt. From that brief cameo last year, she has taken to the role excellently. During her scenes as Kara, without the suit, the actress brings the raw emotion from the character to us in an epic way. We watch as Kara’s past on Argo is revealed, showing us exactly why she is the way she is, like an alcohol-fuelled punk rocker, just itching for a drunken bar brawl.
Her drunken antics and not really caring for those around her, with the exception of Krypto, hide a fun but serious side to her. When her powers come to the fore, we get glimpses of who she really is and what she is capable of. While Clark Kent is all sweetness and light, with a good heart, Kara is broken, her heart heavy, happily content with a path to her own destruction.
A FLAWED BUT BRILLIANT SUPERHERO
Milly Alcock excels in these scenes, bringing a rawness to Kara that we haven’t seen before. We discover her pain, the heartbreak that lies beneath the tough exterior, something we can relate to. During her numerous scenes with Ruthye Marye Knoll (an incredible Eve Ridley, showing the world she is a talent to be reckoned with and watched as a future superstar), the actress makes Kara come across as a mix between parent/ guardian/ sister. Do as I say, not as I do, in a way.
These scenes between the pair are often comical and uplifting, but also emotional. By the time we reach the climax, the bond is almost fully formed. When Kara finally puts on the suit, embracing her true calling, Milly Alcock comes full circle. These are what we have been waiting for. It takes a while to get there, but when it happens, we are fully cheering her on.
MATTHIAS SCHOENAERTS
Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem of the Yellow Hills, the leader of the Brigands, a group of space pirates and human traffickers, gets a thankless task of portraying the villain. We expect a nasty, evil, slimy villain who is a match for Supergirl. While we get the sliminess, we don’t get the rest. Instead, Krem comes across as a cartoon villain, a parody of what we all expect. Krem is a wafer-thin villain, one that has been poorly written. To his credit, Schoenaerts does his best with what little he has to work with. He pulls something out of nothing, delivering a decent performance, despite being let down by the script.
JASON MOMOA
Jason Momoa as Lobo, an alien mercenary and bounty hunter from the utopian planet Czarnia, completely steals the film from under the noses of everyone. To be honest, Momoa isn’t playing Lobo. Momoa IS Lobo. From the second he appears on screen for the first time, Momoa is having the time of his life, bringing the character to life in such an enjoyable way that we light up when we see him. Wisecracking, violent, and a total a**hole, Momoa makes us yearn for a solo spinoff movie with the character. The delivery of his dialogue, his tenacity to throw himself fully into the character, his action scenes, and the way he plays Lobo, Momoa is sheer brilliance. Even his final line in the film elicits a cheer from the audience. Apart from Milly Alcock as Kara/ Supergirl, it is Jason Momoa we want to see more of going forward.
DIRECTION
The direction from Craig Gillespie is perfect for a movie of this type. However, with that in mind, it feels like he has made a Guardians Of The Galaxy movie with Supergirl thrown into the mix. Gillespie tries hard to direct the film as his own, but, and it saddens me to say this, this feels like James Gunn’s fingerprints are all over the direction. Of course, Gunn produces the film, but it feels like he has directed Gillespie to direct the film the way he wants it to be directed, to fit his vision of what the film should look like, rather than allowing Gillespie to have a free rein to direct the film with his hands off the tiller.
Saying that, however, Gillespie manages to get great performances from his cast, set pieces that hit the mark, a sense of fun and enjoyment, despite the flaws in Ana Nogueira’s screenplay. When the inevitable sequel rolls around, Gillespie should rightfully be allowed to take the director’s chair again. That being said, I would like James Gunn to be hands-off next time, allowing Gillespie space to breathe and direct the film how he wants to direct it.
VERDICT
With a wafer-thin villain and a rushed third act, Supergirl still flies but feels like a step back, despite excellent performances from Milly Alcock and a movie-stealing Jason Momoa. It is certainly a lot of fun, vanquishing the 1984 version to the dustbin of history. While I’d have liked a cameo appearance from Helen Slater in some capacity, the film doesn’t allow us this brief but welcome appearance. But that hardly matters in the great scheme of things. While Gunn used the classic John Williams theme for his Superman movie, the new DCU seems to have moved on from these gimmicks that remind us of the past. While the Superman theme is heard fleetingly in the film, there are no throwbacks to the 1984 version, not even a brief but welcome hint of Jerry Goldsmith’s music.
Despite the flaws, once Kara finally appears as the Girl Of Steel/Woman Of Tomorrow, we are rooted to our seats, spellbound as she flies into action. I have to admit, when she adopted the classic flying pose, it was a fist-clenching moment of excitement for me. I almost cheered and applauded these brief but telling moments. And that’s why we go to these kinds of movies. We want to be entertained, be able to cheer and applaud, and be wowed. The film manages to do that, at the very least. David Corenswet has revealed that Milly Alcock has a significant role in the Superman sequel, Man Of Tomorrow. I can’t wait to see her return again as Supergirl; she truly is that good.
MOVING FORWARD
Moving forward, the sequel needs to have a stronger villain and not rely on the same old tropes (Kryptonite plays a role here once again). We also want to see more of Krypto and his relationship with Kara. Here, the lovable super-canine gets a brief time in the spotlight before being sidelined for most of the film. These scenes show Kara’s softer side, her love for the crazy canine companion. We also get to discover how Kara came into possession of Krypto, and see him as a puppy. Once again, it is an ‘ahhhh’ moment. These scenes strengthen the audience’s connection to Kara. But until the sequel flies into cinemas, we can be content that the film is flawed but fun entertainment, something that we can sit back and enjoy before leaving the theater, and contemplate what we have seen. Supergirl may not reach the status of super entertainment, but she flies high, regardless.
Supergirl will be flying into cinemas from this Thursday, Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
