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Rating: 7/10
With Supergirl, DC Studios takes one of its most recognizable heroes in a surprisingly different direction. Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, the film trades the traditional image of Supergirl as an uncomplicated symbol of optimism for something considerably more bruised, rebellious and emotionally complicated.
The result is an imperfect but often refreshing superhero adventure—one that works best when it allows Kara to be something other than a female version of Superman.
Based loosely on Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s acclaimed comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film follows Kara as she embarks on an interstellar journey alongside the young Ruthye Marye Knoll, who wants revenge against the ruthless Krem of the Yellow Hills. Krypto, Kara’s super-powered dog, and the unpredictable bounty hunter Lobo round out an unusual group of characters.
Milly Alcock’s Supergirl
The film belongs to Milly Alcock.
Rather than playing Kara as endlessly wholesome or inspirational, Alcock gives her an edge. This Supergirl has lived through genuine trauma, and the destruction of Krypton has left scars that separate her from her more optimistic cousin.
That distinction is essential.
Kara isn’t simply Superman with a different costume. She is someone who remembers Krypton and carries the emotional consequences of losing her home. Alcock communicates that history through a performance that can shift quickly from sarcastic and reckless to vulnerable.
The result is arguably the film’s strongest dramatic element, even when the screenplay doesn’t always give her enough material to work with. The Hollywood Reporter similarly singled out Alcock as a major strength of the film.
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A Different Kind of Superhero Movie
What makes Supergirl interesting is its willingness to move away from the familiar superhero formula.
This isn’t simply a story about a hero discovering her powers and learning responsibility. Kara already knows exactly what she’s capable of. Her problem is figuring out what she wants to do with those abilities—and whether vengeance can coexist with heroism.
That gives the film a somewhat darker emotional foundation than the title might suggest.
At the same time, Gillespie keeps the movie from becoming relentlessly grim. The colorful alien worlds, eccentric supporting characters and deliberately irreverent humor give Supergirl a pulpy science-fiction quality. The film occasionally feels closer to a cosmic road movie than a traditional superhero origin story.
That tonal experimentation doesn’t always work, but it gives the movie an identity.
Ruthye and the Question of Revenge
The relationship between Kara and Ruthye provides the film with its emotional center.
Ruthye is consumed by the desire to avenge her father’s murder, while Kara understands all too well what it means to lose family. Their relationship gradually becomes less about accomplishing a mission and more about confronting the consequences of grief and revenge.
Unfortunately, the movie sometimes rushes through the emotional development that should make their relationship genuinely powerful. The ideas are there, but the screenplay doesn’t always give them enough room to breathe.
That is particularly frustrating because the underlying premise is considerably more interesting than the average superhero revenge plot.
Lobo Steals the Show
Jason Momoa’s Lobo is perhaps the film’s most obvious piece of fan service—and one of its most entertaining.
Momoa plays the intergalactic bounty hunter with the kind of oversized personality the character demands. Lobo is crude, violent and completely unpredictable, but Momoa understands that the character works best when played with comic-book absurdity rather than realism.
His presence also adds some much-needed energy whenever the central story becomes too solemn.
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Where Supergirl Stumbles
The film’s biggest weakness is its uneven storytelling.
For all of its ambition, Supergirl occasionally feels like several different movies competing for attention: a revenge story, a coming-of-age adventure, a cosmic road movie, a comedy and another chapter in the expanding DC Universe.
Some of those pieces fit together beautifully. Others don’t.
The action is another mixed bag. There are imaginative sequences and some striking alien environments, but several major confrontations lack the visual clarity and impact necessary to make them truly memorable. Recent reviews have similarly criticized the action and screenplay while praising Alcock’s performance.
The film is also burdened slightly by its place within the larger DC Universe. The appearance of Superman and the presence of familiar DC mythology are entertaining, but they occasionally remind us that this is simultaneously trying to establish its own identity and serve as a franchise building block.
A Worthy New Direction for Supergirl
Ultimately, Supergirl is more interesting than it is polished.
Craig Gillespie delivers a colorful, occasionally strange and surprisingly emotional superhero adventure, while Milly Alcock gives the DC Universe a Supergirl who feels distinct from the character’s previous screen incarnations. The film doesn’t always know how to balance its many tones, and its action and screenplay fall short of its considerable potential.
But there’s something genuinely promising underneath the imperfections.
The best superhero movies aren’t necessarily the ones with the most elaborate mythology or the biggest battles. They’re the ones that make us care about the person beneath the costume. Supergirl occasionally loses sight of that principle, but when it focuses on Kara’s grief, anger and gradual rediscovery of purpose, the movie becomes considerably more compelling.
Final Rating: 7/10
The bottom line: Supergirl is an ambitious and unconventional DC adventure elevated by Milly Alcock’s charismatic performance. Its uneven screenplay and inconsistent action keep it from reaching greatness, but its darker interpretation of Kara Zor-El gives the new DC Universe a compelling heroine worth following.
