SUPERGIRL REVIEW: An Emotional Adventure That Soars High

The next entry into DC’s new universe brings us an adaptation of Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s Woman of Tomorrow. Which shows Kara searching for meaning in her life when Ruthye, a young alien child, comes to her for help, sending them off on a thrilling journey. The adaptation was written by Ana Nogueira and directed by Craig Gillespie, starring Milly Alcock as Kara and Eva Ridley as Ruthye. The budget was $170M and the run time is 108 minutes. So how do we feel about the film, which is now in theaters everywhere?

SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Standouts:

I have been looking forward to this film since the day it was first announced by James Gunn and I became even more excited when they announced the book it would be inspired by. From the moment she appeared on screen, Milly embodied Kara. We pick up with her feeling lost and not knowing where she fits in within this universe. Milly’s ability to convey emotion and the range in which she gave in her performance was incredible. There were moments when she had to speak Kryptonian and still managed to emote, capturing the pain and sadness she felt. When it came time to exude confidence and bring out the action once again, I was having so much fun. The action sequences were choreographed excellently, and I found the fights to have been shot well.

More than the punching and hitting, I absolutely loved how they portrayed the lasers she shot from her eyes. The beams felt heavy and powerful, ripping through ships, and her powers translated to the screen very well. When they show Kara in her Supergirl suit for the first time, it sends chills down my spine as they allowed for that scene to have its moment and breathe.

Eva’s portrayal as Ruthye lands as well, the pain she goes through having lost her family, and the naivety she faces in her hunt for Krem allows for her and Kara to bond. I was surprised by how little screentime Momoa has as Lobo in this, which I felt worked in their favor. Introducing him and allowing him to have a few moments while keeping him from being the main focal point allows the audience to build up hype for his next appearance.

The Supporting Cast:

Krem of the Yellow Hills isn’t your standout villain like Thanos or General Zod. And that’s perfectly okay and precisely the point. He isn’t meant to be anything other than the antagonist who sets forth this journey of self-discovery for both girls. In fact, in the comic, he appears in four, maybe five pages in total as is. Matthias Schoenaert brings Krem to life, and he makes the most out of his time in the film. Krem is goofy, unserious, and really not even intimidating at all. However, the Mad Max style that Gillespie sought to bring out is nailed.

Aside from Krem, I was surprised to see how much David Corenswet’s Superman was in this! The chemistry he and Milly have when they share the screen was off the charts, and he truly is Superman. David captures the silly nature, and I left the film dying for Man of Tomorrow just to see him again. The film’s costume designs and various alien species make it stand out, which another franchise could learn a thing or two from, honestly.

Ultimately, Supergirl is a fun time at the theater. It has heart, humor, and spectacle as it’s a film about two girls looking for their place in the universe. It doesn’t need an Oscar worthy villain and it didn’t need a 2 and a half hour run time to accomplish what it set out to. I left the film optimistic and excited for the future, and I cannot wait to see Milly don the “S” again.

Make sure you see this film for yourself and form your own opinions, and remember that movies are there for us as a form of escape from reality or problems we may be facing in our own lives. Lastly, the soundtrack rocks and it is absolutely one I will be spinning on repeat!

Overall Grade 8/10.

What did you think of Supergirl? Let us know in the comments below, and check out more reviews by Matt!