Supergirl Review: Milly Alcock Shines in a Playful, Action‑Packed DCU Debut

Unlike last year’s Superman, Supergirl lacks the direction of DC Studios co‑chairman and co‑CEO James Gunn, but it draws liberally from his popular Guardians Of The Galaxy formula. Set across planets with a lo‑fi sci‑fi aesthetic, orphaned hero Kara Zor‑El (Milly Alcock) adopts a Peter Quill‑style trench coat and headphones. After drifting through life, she is thrust into a mission that finally gives her purpose.

If you’re going to borrow from a Marvel franchise, you’d pick one of its greatest successes. Much of the film’s appeal rests on Milly Alcock—known for House Of The Dragon and Sirens—in the lead role. As the directionless Kryptonian emigrant, she captures Kara’s bruised but resilient spirit as she approaches her 23rd birthday with nothing but an intergalactic pub crawl on her mind. Alcock delivers sharp one‑liners and fully convinces when the character shifts into badass mode. Alongside David Corenswet’s cameo as Superman, her casting feels spot‑on for the current DCU, though the rest of the film doesn’t always match her performances.

Director Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, Cruella) settles into the film’s punkish tone and injects that irreverent energy throughout. The movie includes a healthy dose of humor, such as a witty line explaining why she’s Super‑“girl” while her cousin is Super‑“man,” and the world feels gritty and lived‑in. Emotional beats—like flashbacks to Krypton’s downfall and Kara’s journey of redemption—are handled competently, though not deeply moving. Notably, the film, adapted from the comic miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by screenwriter Ana Nogueira, keeps stakes relatively low for a superhero story. It follows a straightforward revenge plot in which Kara teams up with orphaned Ruthye (Eve Ridley) to exact vengeance and find the antidote to save their beloved dog, Krypto, a welcome return from Superman.

The antagonist, Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), sports a striking, ball‑bearing‑studded visage but receives little development beyond his appearance. He heads the Brigands, a group of human traffickers who abduct girls to sustain their all‑male species, yet the threat remains under‑developed. Intermittent relief arrives in the form of Jason Momoa as Lobo, a cigar‑chomping, immortal anti‑hero biker who feels less essential to this plot than to the larger DCU tapestry. Nonetheless, Momoa’s presence consistently delivers a blast of energy.

The film also falls short in its action sequences. The visual effects often appear muddy, turning Kara’s fight scenes into pixelated blur, and the issue of overly powerful relatives—like Lobo—remains underexploited. Like the Guardians’ “Awesome Mix” playlist, the soundtrack, which includes Wet Leg, Halsey and a bossa nova cantina band, feels a bit uneven; it misses the trailer’s memorable “Call Me” moment, even though Kara’s Blondie t‑shirt hints at it. These flaws give the movie a spotty pace. Still, Alcock’s portrayal of an imperfect, relatable hero carries the film, making it worth watching for her performance alone.

Details

• Director: Craig Gillespie
• Starring: Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, Eve Ridley
• Release date: June 25 (in UK cinemas)

Source link