The Supergirl film, the second installment in the DCU reboot, has landed with a thud, leaving both critics and fans underwhelmed. Despite a promising premise and a strong comic book source, the movie stumbles in execution, raising questions about the DCU’s approach to female-led superhero films.
The film follows Kara Zor-El played by Milly Alcock as she embarks on a space-faring adventure to help a young girl, Ruthye Marye Knoll seek revenge against a brigand named Krem of the Yellow Hills. The story is based on the excellent comic run Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely which provided a solid foundation for the film. However, the transition from page to screen is marred by several missteps.
The struggles of female-led superhero films
The Supergirl film is not alone in its struggles. The history of female-led superhero films is fraught with challenges. It took the MCU over a decade to consider a Black Widow movie, despite her being the only woman in the original Avengers lineup. Captain Marvel also faced delays, and her sequel was poorly promoted. Wonder Woman seemed to break the mold with its 2017 release, but its sequel’s awkward plot left audiences baffled. Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey was a delight but reportedly failed to break even at the box office. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever focused on its female cast due to the death of its leading man, leading to an ungainly runtime and confusion over the film’s focus.
Given this backdrop, Supergirl had big shoes to fill. However, even accounting for these challenges, the film’s execution falls short.
A flawed narrative and questionable choices
The film’s premise is straightforward: a young alien girl seeks revenge, and Supergirl gets involved after her dog, Krypto is poisoned. The narrative takes a dark turn with the introduction of a sex slavery angle, which feels out of place and unnecessary. This addition, not present in the source material, seems to be a desperate attempt to add drama but instead comes off as tone-deaf.
The film’s worldbuilding is another area of concern. The interplanetary settings feel like a carbon copy of Guardians of the Galaxy with familiar Earth elements like blue slushies and the song Girl From Ipanema thrown in without context. The use of a galactic common tongue is also problematic, as it is introduced without explanation, serving only to move the plot forward or complicate it as needed.
The action sequences are lackluster, with a notable scene on a public bus feeling forced and uninspired. The film’s attempt to incorporate a ticking clock with Krypto’s impending death feels like a cheap trope, and the use of animal torture as a plot device is particularly distressing.
The impact of James Gunn’s influence
The film’s script, penned by Ana Nogueira bears the unmistakable mark of James Gunn known for his work on Guardians of the Galaxy. While Gunn’s influence is evident in the film’s humor and action, it also leads to some questionable choices. The film’s attempt to blend humor with dark themes falls flat, and the
Gunn’s love for animals is well-known, and this is reflected in the film’s focus on Krypto. However, the execution of this aspect feels heavy-handed, with the dog’s poisoning serving as the primary motivator for the plot. This focus on animal suffering detracts from the film’s potential to explore more compelling themes.
The film’s soundtrack, while featuring some thrilling songs, feels disjointed and out of place. The music is used to reflect Supergirl’s wayward partying phase and punk rock attitude, but the execution feels forced and inconsistent with the film’s
Despite a promising premise and strong source material, the film stumbles in execution, failing to live up to the potential of its source material and the expectations of its audience. The DCU’s approach to female-led superhero films remains a work in progress, and Supergirl serves as a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when a promising story is not handled with care.
