In case you didn’t realize, it’s the summer of Supergirl. Kara Zor-El is set to take the big screen, portrayed by Milly Alcock, for the first action blockbuster of the summer season.
The film follows Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) on a quest for vengeance after her family is killed by Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). Of course, chasing down Krem and the Brigands is a big task for anyone, so Ruthye seeks reinforcements and tries to recruit Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (Milly Alcock) to join her in this quest. Kara is very reluctant because she has things to do. It’s her birthday, and she plans to continue spending it hopping from one space tavern to the next.
However, when Krem injures Krypto and steals Kara’s ship, Ruthye’s fight becomes hers too. Together, the duo embark on a galactic journey to find Krem and his band of Brigands, crossing paths with the ornery Lobo (Jason Momoa) on the way. Together, Kara and Ruthye take on their shared foe and consider whether vengeance is truly worth it.
The story by Ana Nogueira is based on Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic book series. However, if you are expecting a mostly carbon copy of the comic book in live-action, you might want to temper your expectations. While the main characters (minus Lobo) are the same, and some specific moments or phrases are indeed pulled from the comic book (“Krypton didn’t die in a day. The gods aren’t that kind”), it’s best to take the film by its own merits, and not think of it as an adaptation of the comic (in my opinion).
Directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya), Supergirl is action-packed and explores darker themes than some might expect, including a human trafficking subplot (which was unfortunately undercooked). There will likely be some thematic comparisons (in specific parts) to Mad Max: Fury Road, and Gillespie also said that True Grit inspired his take on Supergirl. I was glad the film tackled darker themes, as it set it apart from the first DC Studios film, Superman.
Outside of the comics, most people’s last exposure to Supergirl was from The CW television series. Portrayed by Melissa Benoist on the Supergirl TV show, Kara was written to be much like her cousin, Kal-El/Clark. But in the new Supergirl film, Kara is probably as far from Clark’s happy-go-lucky self as you can get. Which is a good thing. Kara should be able to stand on her own, and she truly just gets to be her, with all the messiness that comes with it. This was one of the best aspects of the film for me – allowing Kara to feel everything fully, without a care about how she may be perceived by others. Nogueira did a wonderful job of writing that into the story, while Milly Alcock excelled at translating it into her on-screen performance.
At the heart of the film are the two leads, aptly portrayed by Alcock and Eve Ridley. Both shine in their respective roles, and they alone make the film worth watching. Alcock does a fantastic job of portraying the disillusioned Kyptonian who witnessed the death of her family and her planet, the perfect foil to Ridley’s bright-eyed and determined Ruthye. Together, the pair share some of the film’s most important and emotional throughlines, and they do so well. They embody their characters with ease, and it was a joy to watch them together on-screen. For me, they were the best part of the film.
Next, we have Jason Momoa’s Lobo. Momoa has been very vocal about wanting to portray Lobo in live-action, as the bounty hunter was one of his favourite comic book characters growing up. Momoa told me that playing Lobo was all for him because he’s a fan. And, as one would suspect, he nails the role of the cigar-chewing, spacebike-riding menace. That said, he isn’t in the film that much, but when he is, you can tell he is definitely having the time of his life.
Lastly, we have Krem of the Yellow Hills, portrayed by Matthias Schoenaerts. While Schoenaerts isn’t bad in the role, I just found Krem underwhelming as the main villain. The comic book iteration of the character was more compelling to me, and I honestly did not care for the redesign. There is something much more frightening when the villain just looks like any other guy walking down the street. So, to me, making him look scarier on the outside defeated that purpose. That said, Schoenaerts did well with the material given, but ultimately, Krem was forgettable.
Now, I know most of you are wondering about the action. There were plenty of action scenes to keep audiences entertained, which were elevated by Claudia Sarne’s score. The sequences did a great job of showcasing Kara’s varied fighting skills, including what she can do even when she’s not at the height of her powers, thanks to a red sun. As for the visual effects, certain sections were a bit spotty (similar to last year’s Superman). Much like its titular character, Supergirl, the VFX aren’t perfect, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the film as a whole.
Ultimately, Supergirl shows that it is okay to be emotional, it’s okay to be messy, and it’s okay to be completely you – something that everyone certainly needs to feel every once in a while. Bolstered by pitch-perfect performances from Alcock, Ridley, and Momoa, Supergirl soars at its highest when it folds the audience into all the emotional stakes at play, paired with the thrilling action.
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