“Supergirl” marks an unfortunate milestone as the inaugural film in James Gunn’s revamped DC Universe to receive a low score, sparking mixed reviews from critics in the industry. Does this foretell trouble for the fledgling DC Films division? Watch our video above to explore the early review feedback.
Currently, “Supergirl” holds a 59% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, teetering on mediocrity but solidifying its status as a ‘rotten’ entry. While some reviewers found aspects of the film compelling, they heavily criticized its lackluster storyline. “Kill Krem! Save the dog! Those are the simplistic motivations that drive the surprisingly uninspired plot of ‘Supergirl.’ Perhaps this explains why the film, despite being action-packed, feels oppressively dull,” notes Owen Gleiberman of Variety.
Robbie Collin from The Telegraph criticized director Craig Gillespie for a lack of originality. “Craig Gillespie, known for ‘Cruella’ and ‘I, Tonya,’ orchestrates a few engaging CG battles and offers glimpses of Krypton and Earth that briefly divert the eye. However, the majority of the film feels laborious, almost like a never-ending muddle derived from ‘Mad Max’ and ‘Star Wars’ scenes.”
Milly Alcock’s performance is the film’s saving grace
Warner Bros. Pictures
Reviewers often highlighted the film’s clichéd portrayal of Kara Zor-El’s (Milly Alcock) grief journey as a storytelling shortfall. “The film resorts to the predictable ‘cool girl’ trope in depicting Supergirl’s confrontation with trauma and sorrow,” writes Tomris Laffly for Rogerebert.com. “She’s depicted as a heavy drinker, a witty quipper, and a tough fighter, purportedly to mask her vulnerabilities. Essentially, her character is another typical ‘strong female’ archetype that mistakes normal human flaws for profound, feminine complexity.”
Thankfully, the film has some saving graces, namely Milly Alcock’s performance as Kara, which has been roundly praised by even the most negative reviewer. To wit: Johnny Oleksinski of The New York Post downed the film for its faux-edgy tone, while stating, “The only compelling performance here is Alcock’s. Her personality, both petulant and lovable, shines through this predictable march toward the obvious like the yellow sun that gives Supergirl her power.” Other critics warmly praise Jason Momoa’s Lobo, who some, such as The Hollywood Reporter‘s David Rooney, even felt was “underused.”
Can the new DCU suffer through the slings and arrows of critical misfortune to make it to the top of the box office? If you want to hear more not-so-great reviews for “Supergirl,” then click our video above.