★★★ out of 5 -- Rated: PG-13 -- Run time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Bringing the character of Superman’s cousin, Supergirl, to the big screen has been a challenge.
There were high hopes for 1984’s “Supergirl” featuring Helen Slater, but negative reviews and poor box office shot down that anticipated franchise faster than a kryptonite arrow.
The character was then sidelined as the studio concentrated on movies featuring The Man of Steel, although those had their share of ups and downs.
The female superhero did show up in a couple of live-action TV shows (“Smallville” and “Supergirl”) as well as some animated series before re-emerging in 2023 in a small part in the big screen film, “The Flash.”
Actress Sasha Calle was signed and ready to be front and center in future films, but a studio merger and changes at Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment resulted in those plans being shelved.
When the dust finally cleared, a new game plan emerged. First came a completely new Man of Steel (David Corenswet), who starred in 2025’s successful reboot, “Superman.” The film featured a short appearance by Supergirl, now played by “House of the Dragon” actress Milly Alcock. She played it a little drunk, sassy and edgy, making it a nice set-up for her own film, which has just opened in theaters.
The film begins with the young lady celebrating her 23rd birthday. She’s doing shots, swearing, and is clearly a little troubled. She’s also smart and very capable of handling herself.
Alcock demonstrated her acting chops in “House of the Dragon” and does so again here. She smoothly tackles all the physical challenges of the role, while still being vulnerable and conflicted.
The script was written by Ana Nogueira, a former actress-turned playwright-turned-screenwriter who has been writing for multiple DC movie projects. Also listed as writers are Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
The story unfolds at a smooth and brisk pace. We meet the main villain: a stud-faced psycho named “Krem of the Yellow Hills,” played by Matthias Schoenaerts, who was seen previously in “Red Sparrow.”
He and his henchmen kill the family of a teenage girl named Ruthye, who embarks on a mission of revenge that leads her to form an alliance with Supergirl. Ruthye is well-played by British actress Eve Ridley, who appeared in the Netflix series “3 Body Problem.”
Also showing up periodically in the film is Jason Momoa (“Aquaman”), who seems delighted to play an over-the-top, extremely-violent, alien mercenary/bounty hunter who proves to be an ally.
Director Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya” and “Cruella”) manages to stage multiple big fight scenes, while also weaving in a series of flashbacks that tell the origin story of Supergirl and how she came to follow her cousin to Earth.
By the way, “Superman” himself (David Corenswet) does appear multiple times, as does Krypto, the wildly popular dog from the first film. An attack on the pooch is a major plot driver in this movie.
The writing is very clever, with some excellent lines. When the pessimistic Supergirl is asked about the difference between her and the Man of Steel, she replies: “He sees the good in people. I see the truth.” The script also deftly handles the question of why the heroine is known as Super-GIRL while her cousin is Super-MAN.
There are a number of elements here that may feel familiar. The tough, extreme-looking bad guys look like leftovers from a Mad Max film, while some of the action sequences feel very inspired by those movies. The multiple spaceships are reminiscent of “Star Wars,” as is a big cantina fight scene filled with aliens. And yet another battle sequence brings back memories of “Deadpool.”
“Supergirl” is often a very dark film. It’s violent and pushes the envelope of what many might expect from a superhero movie. I loved the performances and think that Milly Alcock was a superb, engaging choice to play the heroine.
The problem is that “Supergirl” feels more like an extended set-up for a follow-up movie. I was expecting more to happen in this film, which runs just 1 hour, 48 minutes, one of the shortest DC releases. Instead, it concludes with a rather abrupt ending that had me thinking, “Are they saving material for the next one?”
“Supergirl” has some nice moments, and while it’s not a bad film, it’s not a great one either. I am hopeful for the follow-up.
Note: For fans of staying through the credits for bonus clips, don’t bother. There are none in this film.