Supergirl Story
Having wowed viewers with her introduction in last year’s summer spectacle ‘Superman’, ‘Supergirl’ is on a mission to help an unlikely accomplice avenge the death of her family at the hands of an evil force, while also racing against time to acquire an antidote that shall save her poisoned pet, her solefriend and emotional support.
Supergirl Review
Inspired from the comic book mini-series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow; (2021–22) by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, Supergirl; is the standalone second film in Peter Safran and James Gunn's DC Universe after their stellar debut in 2025 with Superman, starring David Corenswet. Starring Milly Alcock (best known as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the HBO series ‘House of the Dragon’), ‘Supergirl’ was briefly introduced in ‘Superman’ in an uncredited appearance and the new film sets off to focus on her origin story.
Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (Alcock) belongs to the otherworldly planet named Krypton, that was caught in a radiation attack, which took her parents away who ensured that she escaped its clutches with her pet Krypto. Hence, unlike her cousin, Supergirl is pessimistic, bitter and detached. She prefers to party in a different planet with Krypto and together, the two enjoy their routine escapades, much to the chagrin of Superman (David Corenswet, in an extended appearance), who is concerned and worried about his cousin’s inability to nurture affection.
A still from Supergirl
During one of her stopovers, Supergirl meets Ruthye (Eve Ridley), the lone survivor of the Marye Knoll clan, who was murdered by the Brigand leader Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). Ruthye wants revenge and seeks Supergirl's help, which she vehemently denies. She later makes a firm resolve to help Ruthye, when Krem destroys her ship and injures Krypto with a poisonous dart. When she learns that Krypto has only three days to sustain the effect of the poison, Supergirl decides to chase Krem, in order to retrieve an antidote, he possesses.
Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, ‘Supergirl’ resorts to convenient feminism cliches to establish a convincing central act. Kara is shown to have an acidic tongue, who drinks like a sailor and has no regard for feelings. When I say convenient feminism, it implies the lens adopted by the male gaze, across the globe. Which is oddly baffling, considering a woman is the writer here. Much of the writing also undoes the fascination induced by the comic book, that offered a differing perspective into Supergirl’s personality, unlike what unfolds in the movie.
Even Ruthye carries a more substantial arc in the comic than the sorry-sidekick treatment given to Ridley, who tries her sincerest best to elevate the middling screenplay. Schoenaerts as Krem is hardly menacing when one isn't entirely distracted by his facial piercings. Even an obligatory appearance by Jason Momoa as Lobo doesn’t add any comic relief. The production design and visual effects carry a seen-that-before aesthetic, which further adds to the collateral damage. It’s a disappointing slate of creative choices by Gillespie, considering the superhero films of the West rely more on spectacle. In trying to explore the humanity that exists within a superlative force, ‘Supergirl’ neither elicits emotions nor delivers entertainment.
Supergirl Verdict
Alcock and Ridley are the heart and soul of this singularly dull film. Even the brief exchanges between Supergirl and Corenswet’s Superman offer some respite in a script sinking in its own mediocrity. ‘Supergirl’, in the hands of a more competent director, had the potential to enjoy a grander payoff, given the maddening reception enjoyed by the comic book. Unfortunately, it is let down by flat writing and the over-zealous ambitions of its makers.
