Supergirl is the much-awaited installment in the NDCU (New DC Universe), linking to it’s introductory reboot movie: Superman, directed by Craig Gillespie (famous for directing and producing famous films such as I, Tonya, Cruella and Dumb Money) and written by Ana Nogueira (recognized for her contribution to stage plays and TV shows such as Blacklist and The Vampire Diaries). The film introduces Kara Zor-El, a severe alcoholic who travels to various planets in celebration of her 23rd birthday, alongside her cute dog: Krypto. After her dog is poisoned by the sinister Brigand leader: Krem, Kara sets out on an intergalactic journey in search of revenge. But will she succeed in bringing her companion back to life? Or will she be slaughtered under Krem’s blade?
First off, this film is carried by its strong humor and punk-rock vibe. Superman, directed by James Gunn, absolutely nailed that explosive style and resonated with most audiences, as James Gunn is famous for razor-sharp cuts, laugh-out-loud humor and dynamic camera movements that immerses the audience completely. Supergirl takes the James Gunn style and introduces a fresh feminine perspective to it, with more punchy emotional beats and a different style of humor as compared to Superman that surprisingly still hits the spot. Amidst all the new characters, Lobo (played by Jason Momoa) stole every scene that he was in, bringing a rib-tickling dynamic to dull moments and paying proper homage to the comics. Milly Alcock shines as Kara Zor-El, acing the brash persona in the present as opposed to the meek and mild demeanour showcased in the backstory, resulting in a proper fleshed-out character arc and an excellent entry point into her character.
With all the praise aside, the film equally has its fair share of flaws. The pacing is extremely uneven and rocky, causing the second act to feel bloated and lethargic as compared to the kinetic first act. The film would have benefitted from a longer runtime to properly flesh out each new character, as some characters such as Krem and Ruthye feel cartoonish and one-dimensional. The screenplay and script is quite weak, centering itself around a singular event that does not hold high stakes or make the viewers feel tensed. However, Supergirl is an entertaining superhero popcorn flick that will engage both die-hard DC fans and regular movie-goers looking for a fun ride that doesn’t tax your brain too much.
