CEBU, PHILIPPINES — If the Marvel Cinematic Universe had a strong debut with “Iron Man” but suffered a sophomore slump with “The Incredible Hulk” before recovering afterward, many superhero fans can hope the same could be true for James Gunn’s DC Universe (DCU), as “Supergirl” fails to live up to the highs of the franchise’s promising start with “Superman” last year.
Loosely inspired by the well-beloved “Woman of Tomorrow” comic series, the second film entry in the DCU follows Kara Zor-El, a.k.a. Supergirl (Milly Alcock), after her brief cameo last year.
Still mourning the destruction of her home planet, Krypton, and wanting to enjoy her 23rd birthday, Kara processes her grief by getting drunk in planets with red suns, where she can become intoxicated easily than on planets with yellow suns like Earth, where she feels homesick despite Clark Kent’s (David Corenswet) attempts to make his cousin feel at home.
While on a layover in space with her superpowered pet companion, Krypto, she encounters an orphan named Ruthye (Eve Ridley), who recently lost her family after they were killed by the space pirate and trafficker Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts). Kara joins Ruthye’s mission after Krypto is poisoned by Krem and has only a few days to live, with the antidote in the villain’s possession.
But as Ruthye’s desire for revenge slowly grows, Kara is forced to re-examine her own gray morality as she realizes that Ruthye’s path toward vengeance will not resolve her loss.
A major factor behind “Supergirl” being one of the most anticipated superhero films of the year was its darker exploration of justice, serving as an interesting antithesis to the softer, optimistic messaging of “Superman,” as Kara and Clark have opposing worldviews. As Supergirl says, “He sees the good in everyone, I see the truth.”
As the film explores Kara’s origins through flashback scenes of Krypton before its destruction, viewers get a glimpse into her psyche and why she is so jaded compared to Clark’s more sheltered upbringing — which is arguably one of the film’s few best parts.
What makes “Supergirl” fall apart is its pacing, which feels too slow and dragging. It becomes a chore to sit through the film’s multiple plot points. Because of this, viewers may have a hard time connecting with its titular character despite Alcock’s best efforts. Her performance makes it clear that she understands Kara’s jaded nature and is the perfect person to embody the role.
It doesn’t help that some of the characters around Kara also aren’t likable enough for viewers to care about. Ruthye’s naivety, mixed with her thirst for revenge, makes her an annoying companion with a misguided sense of righteousness, while Lobo (Jason Momoa) only serves as a convenient character who helps them get out of trouble. While it was refreshing to see Momoa return to the world of DC after his turn as Aquaman, his character’s arrogant presence feels out of place.
The film’s questionable direction is surprising coming from someone like director Craig Gillespie, who is known for helming films with complex female leads such as “I, Tonya” and “Cruella,” both of which he executed far better.
Perhaps the film’s biggest Achilles’ heel is that it tries too hard to emulate Gunn’s signature style throughout “Supergirl,” particularly with its space setting, something he had already done with the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films during his time at Marvel.
What would normally work in a film directed by Gunn perhaps doesn’t translate well under a different filmmaker with a different approach, from questionable song choices to bland visuals that feel like a copy-and-paste of various space blockbusters released in recent years.
Some viewers can’t help but wonder what went wrong with the film’s execution and question certain creative decisions made by the filmmakers involved, including screenwriter Ana Nogueira, especially since the film takes cues from a well-beloved comic that many fans have already compared to it unfavorably.
Supergirl’s failure to tell a compelling story only reinforces the misconception among some fans that female-led superhero films don’t sell, when the real issue lies in the quality of the films themselves rather than the gender of their protagonists.
There’s no doubt that fans want to see Alcock return as Supergirl, as she is set to reprise the role in “World of Tomorrow,” the sequel to “Superman,” as one of the film’s main characters alongside Superman, Lex Luthor and Lois Lane. But the Australian actress, who made a remarkable turn as the younger Rhaenyra Targaryen in the “Game of Thrones” prequel, deserves better material to carry the franchise forward. Two stars out of five.
| Januar Junior Aguja / VAB
