Cinematic Point Of View

I really liked Supergirl. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It’s not trying to be Superman at all. This isn’t a story about saving the world. This is a street-level superhero story, more akin to a Spiderman story, about handling grief and finding a reason to care. It was simple, refreshing, and a welcome break from the usual universe-ending crisis.

I’ve seen endless complaints about this film and I just don’t understand how you can’t watch a movie like this and enjoy it. It has its share of issues, I fully admit, but there is so much to like up on that screen.

First, there’s Kara or Supergirl herself (Milly Alcock). When we find her, she’s basically living in a trailer (okay, it’s a spaceship) with her dog Krypto on a red sun planet that negates her powers. She’s lost her home world and her people, and she’s chosen to lose herself in alcohol instead. She’s in pain. She’s grieving.

Then there’s Ruthye (Eve Ridley), a young girl who watches a band of thieves and slavers murder her family right in front of her, all over a sword her father owned. She sets out looking for someone to help her track down their leader, a creep named Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts). She’s out for revenge.

Completely out of her league, Ruthye gets into a fight at a bar where Supergirl is hanging out and tries to recruit her. Supergirl refuses until Krem tracks Ruthye down to steal the sword and, in the process, hits Krypto with a poison dart that gives the dog three days to live without the antidote. Krem escapes with both.

Now they each have a solid reason to find the bad guy. And with that, we’re off.

I thought Milly Alcock made a fantastic, very grounded Supergirl. Eve Ridley adds some emotional urgency and Jason Momoa as Lobo was the perfect big, loud idiot that helped keep things from getting too serious at times.

The action pieces all looked spectacular and the Kara backstory scenes were really compelling and moving. It all flows and feels like a comic should.

I thought the design of the planets, ships, and creatures was excellent. The whole movie has this rusty, beautiful, lived-in space western look that really appealed to me. I also appreciated all the creativity that went into the different aliens. There is a scene in the beginning where Supergirl has to take a bus filled with a variety of alien species that’s a great showcase for the creature creativity. Honestly, I love the idea that Supergirl had to take a bus. That’s a bit of humor that really won me over early on.

Sure, there are script problems like any movie. There are plenty of places and characters that could have used a bit more fleshing out, but I had no trouble connecting the dots and reading between the lines. It’s not unsimilar to reading a comic and moving from panel to panel. Sometimes you have to fill in those spaces yourself.

Maybe I was just in the right frame of mind, but Supergirl just worked for me. I knew what I was in for and it delivered. My recommendation is go see it. It’s a fun, popcorn movie with a lot of heart that deserves a better reception than it’s been getting.