Supergirl

It’s been over 40 years since Supergirl last appeared in a solo movie. The extremely camp 1984 version may have developed a cult following, but it left a mark on the character’s public perception, branding her with a certain silliness. This new version attempts to rehabilitate her into someone tougher, smarter and less likely to get in a fight with a runaway bulldozer.

Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), cousin of Kal-El/Clark/Superman, has just turned 23, a birthday she’s ‘celebrating’ by bar-hopping across planets with her dog, Krypto, and trying not to interact with anyone. Her maudlin drinking plans are screwed up when she’s pestered by Ruthye (Eve Ridley), a child seeking someone to help her exact revenge on Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts), a space brigand who slaughtered her family. When Krem poisons Krypto, Kara pursues him across the universe to seize the antidote, reluctantly taking Ruthye with her. 

There are some promising choices in this reboot, written by Ana Nogueira and directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya). The simplicity of Kara’s mission – to save her beloved dog – is refreshing, free of the heavy lore and interplanetary beef that can weigh down some superhero movies. And there’s something clever in the characterisation of Kara as an old soul. She’s significantly younger than her cousin, Superman (David Corenswet, in an extended cameo), but has lived more. He left the planet Krypton as a baby and has no memory of it. Kara lived there long enough to see it die and feels like a true alien on Earth. She does not share her cousin’s boy scout view of people and morality.

This Supergirl is tougher, smarter and less likely to get in a fight with a runaway bulldozer

As an introduction to a character, it sows seeds that might grow in interesting ways. As a standalone film, it’s very safe. It’s quite fun and easy to watch, with reasonable action and a trim running time, but there’s little to distinguish it. Alcock has presence as Kara, authentically fed up with everyone, but the script feels like it’s holding her back and rarely gives her anyone great to bounce off. Ruthye is an earnest sidekick and the villain is the kind of broadly evil thug who might be a secondary goon in a Guardians of the Galaxy sequel.

It comes alive when Jason Momoa appears, all too briefly, as brawny, angry bounty hunter Lobo. He adds nothing to the plot but plenty to the tone, spitting insults and giving Kara someone equally socially maladjusted to spar with. There are the makings of a great buddy comedy in their dynamic, but we enjoy it fleetingly.

This is unquestionably the best Supergirl movie, in a field of two, but it could have aimed for so much more. It never really flies to any great heights but stays at a pleasant cruising altitude. 

In cinemas worldwide Fri Jun 26.