Supergirl Review: Not a Disaster, Just Not Enough for Today's Market
Critics find the Supergirl movie surprisingly good, but in an oversaturated superhero market, being 'pretty good' isn't enough to draw audiences to theaters, leading to a disappointing box office.
Ars Technica's review of Supergirl, the latest DCU installment, argues that the film is far from a disaster despite its weak box office performance. However, in today's cluttered superhero landscape, a merely 'pretty good' movie struggles to compete.
Director Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl, I, Tonya) crafted an interplanetary road movie based on the comic miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, partly inspired by the classic Western True Grit. Initially envisioned as a buddy movie with Jason Momoa's Lobo, the final cut reduces Lobo to a cameo, focusing instead on Kara's friendship with a vengeance-driven alien child, Ruthye.
Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) plays a rebellious Kara who celebrates her 23rd birthday bar-hopping on red star planets with her dog Krypto. After Krem of the Yellow Hills kills Ruthye's family and poisons Krypto, Kara teams up with Ruthye to seek revenge and a cure. Flashbacks reveal Kara's childhood on Argo City, where her father saved the city from Krypton's destruction but her mother died of radiation sickness.
The reviewer praises Alcock's performance, her chemistry with Eve Ridley's Ruthye, and Krypto's screen presence. Momoa's cameo is fun but shallow, and the villain Krem is one-note. The film's straightforward plot avoids unnecessary cameos, a refreshing change from its predecessor.
So why the weak box office? The review points to superhero fatigue, a crowded market (Masters of the Universe, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Disclosure Day also underperformed), and trailers that reveal the entire predictable plot. It dismisses theories about anti-woke backlash or misogyny. While not an instant classic, Supergirl offers enjoyable escapism, especially for hot summer days. Alcock will reprise her role in next year's Man of Tomorrow.
