Supergirl review

 

Superhero films are not generally a lot of fun when there’s serious world saving to be done yet Supergirl ,while it does have some darker hues to its story, is light and breezy enough to make you smile. Unlike the most recent Superman its clear his cousin takes her responsibilities a lot less seriously even if tis is covering up for traumatic past issues. The relatively small stakes of the plot compared with the other films of this ilk do make it more amenable to those less familiar with the backstory. In tone Supergirl lines up more with something like Guardians of the Galaxy. And, yes, the music is very loud!

Spoilers after the break.

 

Kara Zar- El is twenty-three, a birthday she has chosen to celebrate across multiple days getting plastered in seedy dive bars populated by the lowest lifeforms around. The patrons are all weird looking aliens none of whom seem very friendly. She’s not like her cousin who always tries to see the best in people; she views everything sardonically through a glass of something or a pair of large shades. On her latest planetfall she encounters Ruthye, a teenager on a mission to avenge her recently slaughtered family. The perpetrator is notorious people trafficker Krem of the Yellow Hills, a man so tough he has a face full of metal studs. Unwillingly drawn into helping Ruthye (suggesting she does have a conscience) Kara ends up with a personal stake in the vendetta when her beloved dog Krypto is injured with a poison that will kill him in three days unless she can get the antidote which Krem has. Of course by now he’s long gone.

We’re in quest territory here; two mismatched characters racing against time to find something vital to save a friend but however familiar this seems scriptwriter Ana Nogueira and director Craig Gillespie keep it moving quickly enough not to linger on anything for too long. Its brash and loud, the fight sequences make much use of different perspectives, tight editing and slow motion plus some heroic moments. Given the director’s nationality there is definitely something of the rough and tumble of Australian pioneers blended into the film, though it was filmed in the UK and Iceland. Krem and his gang seem to have popped in directly from Mad Max. The film certainly runs with the current trend for battered retro tech, rusted metal and realistic gravitational issues and is bathed in rich, dark colour. Impressive sets and some interesting locations add to an earthy aesthetic. The sound mix is booming with some choice music cuts interspersed very much in a Guardians of the Galaxy style. These sorts of films are really a modern take on Westerns with Universal storytelling that people can relate to.

When some of Kara’s backstory does come it’s at a suitable moment and kept just about short enough. Its shiny futuristic city is quite a contrast to the harsh landscapes we see elsewhere. These are necessary scenes to show that unlike Clark, who was dispatched as a baby, Kara was a teenager when her parents sent her away to safety and this is what she carries with her.

The plot is kept simple – with hurried glances at the countdown- and through you may not feel too much concern about Krypto himself who is rather an irritating presence, its what the dog means to Kara that drives the narrative. Milly Alcock certainly gives a new spin on the character of Kara making her the opposite of the buttoned up Clark; we see several scenes of her waking up hungover and is initially reluctant to help Ruthye. Despite there being no attempt to make her likeable at first, she is anyway because she seems relatable. While I didn’t think she was quite as strong when Kara moves into full on superhero mode, to be fair much of what she then has to do is kick ass! There’s squabbling chemistry between Kara and Ruthye, rather like an older / younger sister dynamic though I don’t think the latter gets anywhere near as much character attention. Eve Ridley makes the most of the script though in a role that becomes the straight foil to the more comedic and bigger performances elsewhere.

Matthias Schoenaerts is great as Krem, exuding a casual menace and a range of funny looks to differentiate him from other similar villains. He and his gang are sufficiently aggressive to provide a palpable tension. Jason Momoa has a lot of fun as Lobo, a cigar chomping heavy metal mercenary on a powerful bike. I’m not sure the character is anything other than a plot device when either of our heroines need a hand but at least it is Ruthye who helps him break out of jail at one point.

By the end after a fantastic battle sequence atop and inside a crashing spaceship, Ruthye’s determination to slay Krem in revenge for what he did is something Kara talks her down from though most film goers will guess what happens moments later. The suggestion here is that Kara’s personal issues are far from salved by this adventure; she may have softened slightly to her aversion to having friends and helping out but I would guess that next time round it might be that Rutheye or maybe even Clark has to talk her out of doing something desperate.

Once scene does raise the issue of why Supergirl is so named when the age difference with Superman is only a handful of years plus I’ve always wondered at what age would Supergirl be old enough to be called Superwoman. Though the question is asked it’s not answered which does somewhat suggest that the DC filmmakers are unsure how much change the should make to established lore. I’d say they could be even bolder. Overall Supergirl is huge fun though only if you enjoy superhero films. I prefer it to the recent Superman film but what I’d like to see now is the two of them sharing a movie together.