I was dreading going into the first big superhero blockbuster of the year, Supergirl. I really shouldn’t have been. This movie is pretty good. Not great, by any stretch of the imagination, but I still liked it. Supergirl provides lots of fun and a strong lead performance, and I think that justifies watching it.
The biggest reason why I was dreading going into the film was the humor. I expected a lot of gross humor involving bodily functions. You certainly get a lot of it…but it’s pretty well contained to the first fifteen or twenty minutes. Most of the humor in this movie is what you’ve become accustomed to seeing in MCU movies, Jurassic World movies, and other Hollywood blockbusters. Very few if any jokes will actually make you laugh, but many of the jokes will make you smirk. It’s extremely pedestrian, but it’s also inoffensive, which means it doesn’t drag down the better aspects of the film.
Among those better aspects of the film, probably the best is the fighting. Supergirl ups the stakes and makes its action scenes not only big in scope, but also big in roster. These action sequences are huge not just because they involve buildings collapsing or colors flashing on screen, but also because there are a ton of people involved at the same time. To imagine a typical action scene in this movie, think about another DC property: the Batman Arkham games. This is like watching one of those fight sequences, where you’re surrounded by goons and combo’ing them with unique moves. Only the main character has kryptonian powers, which makes it even cooler. The best action in this film is elevated even beyond that, featuring not just spectacle but genuine tension, using villains who already know our main protagonist’s weaknesses and featuring classic situations of citizens in peril until the very last second.
Supergirl is marketed as punk rock. It is not punk rock. Or, if it is, it’s Avril Lavigne. It’s mainstream radio rock. But I like mainstream radio rock. I also like Avril Lavigne. That type of music has a certain upbeat energy while managing to appeal to a wide audience, and Supergirl does the same. (Even if it somewhat limits its audience with a surprising amount of vulgarity, whether it be the brief marathon of gross humor or the numerous instances of cursing. So much for this line of characters being kid-friendly).
This film would not work without Milly Alcock’s performance. She is great in this movie. Within the confines of what she’s expected to do, her personality shines and the evolution of her character is reflected in her expressions. Eve Ridley doesn’t get as much room to shine, playing an intentionally stoic and stiff character, but it is nice to have minority representation from the Filipina actress. Generally, this film is relatively neutral towards ethnic minorities, casting them in roles big and small, villainous and heroic, while casting white actors the same way. But it is nice having two strong and ambitious female leads as our main protagonists.
James Gunn is not directing this one, but director Craig Gillespie, best known for I, Tonya, seems to be attempting to emulate James Gunn’s success with the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Whether it’s all the different planetary and extra-planetary settings, this specific style of humor, the nonstop cues of rock music, or the clash of personalities central to the movie’s tone, Supergirl really seems to be trying to imitate those movies. It doesn’t rise to the heights of that trilogy, but it’s a welcome addition.
This film has a very distinct visual appeal. It takes the standard palatte of a Hollywood superhero movie, but cranks up the brightness and colors in many notable instances. Color even plays an important role in the plot of the film. I thought the visual design of the movie was very noteworthy, while the editing of the film might be noteworthy for opposite reasons: there were several decisions, such as cutting out huge swaths of interplanetary travel, or cutting too fast during action scenes, that I personally disagreed with, but it’s doubtful if the average moviegoer will even notice these decisions.
Overall, Supergirl is a decent movie, anchored by great action scenes and a great lead performance. It doesn’t have a great supporting cast and it won’t satisfy those looking for something refreshing in the genre, but if you just want something fun and exciting, I think this movie passes that test.
