Jason Momoa steals the show
Published 18.27
Supergirl
Directed by Craig Gillespie, with Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason MomoaDavid Corenswet, David Krumholtz.
MOVIE REVIEW. Milly Alcock is superb as Supergirl – just a shame the film around her isn’t always.
Jason Momoa steals every scene he’s in as the red-eyed bounty hunter Lobo.
GENRE. When James Gunn (“Guardians of the galaxy” trilogy) took over as artistic director of DC Studios in 2022, he hit the reset button. All of the film company’s superheroes such as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman would now be relaunched with new actors.
First out was “Superman” last year, directed by James Gunn himself. The film was so full of heart that it was almost bursting at the seams, ignoring the obvious flaws. In the end, the Australian dived Milly Alcock (“House of the dragon”) a little rushed up as Superman’s cousin Supergirl.
The quick cameo visit was both fun and a promising appetizer for the film, which is now premiering.
Now we have more fun
Certainly, Stålflickan has had its own TV series and Sasha Calle played the superhero in the flop “The Flash” (2023), but she hasn’t had her own film since 1985 then Helen Slater flew around in leotards and fought against Faye Dunaway like an evil magic pack. The result then was nothing further, we have more fun now.
Kara Zor-El, also known as Supergirl, is not like her slightly older cousin Kal-El aka Clark Kent aka Superman. When Clark is sent to Earth as a baby with his home planet Krypton about to implode, Kara isn’t even born. Part of Krypton’s population manages to escape the disaster by sealing the city of Argo in a force field. On this galactic driftwood, Kara Zor-El grows up and only in her teens is sent to Earth to join her cousin.
As the movie begins, Kara turns 23 and celebrates by getting drunk on a planet with a red sun. A red sun is required for her to be able to sense the drunkenness – and not be disturbed by her superpowers. It is only a yellow sun, like the one above Earth, that gives her the ability to fly and shoot lasers from her eyes.
At the space bar, young Ruthye dives (Eve Ridley) up who has seen his whole family slaughtered by the bandit Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts). Ruthye asks Kara for help in exacting her revenge, but Kara is more interested in getting drunk and listening to music than devoting energy to helping others.
At least until Krem does a John Wick and hurts Kara’s beloved dog Krypto. After that, there is nothing in the universe that can stop Kara from finding the bandit herself and bringing justice.
Danger bandits
After a somewhat slow start, this space western takes off when Supergirl gets some well-deserved vitamin D and starts smacking bandits left and right to punkish pop tunes on the soundtrack. Unlike her cousin, she also seems to have no qualms about killing baddies if necessary.
The director Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya”) unfortunately lacks James Gunn’s exuberant love for his characters and “Supergirl” suffers from the same kryptonites as many others in its genre. Vengeful Ruthye is a rather dull companion, Krem joins the ranks of generic forgettable villains and too much of the film is surprisingly grim when it should be fun.
With glowing cigar and studded leather riding Jason Momoa onto a cool flying motorcycle as the bounty hunter Lobo and liven up the mood. For many years, Momoa has been clamoring to play Lobo – and it shows. He has so much fun in the role that both the film and one’s mood are lifted by every scene he steals.
Milly Alcock is superb as Supergirl and when the film’s tame script falters it is saved again and again by her charm and Jason Momoa’s energy. Then “Supergirl” becomes a life-giving yellow sun that makes us see between our fingers that the film does not always live up to its bright potential.
Shown in cinemas.
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