GoKawiilSupergirl is the second full-length film from James Gunn's DC Studios and it switches gears from last year's Superman to focus on his younger cousin Kara. Milly Alcock steps into the Kryptonian's shoes, who, up until now, has mostly existed on the small screen, thanks to the CW series.
This iteration of Supergirl exists in the same stylistic space as Guardians of the Galaxy. Kara, like Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), lives in an analog universe where her surroundings are gritty, lived-in and tactile, which is a stark difference from the hyper-colorful world of Metropolis, where Clark Kent resides.
Both characters are cut from a similar cloth, what with the way they dress, the old-school headphones they prefer and the sardonic way they interact with those they meet. Their rough, deprecating exteriors are informed by separate traumas.
As seen throughout the Guardians trilogy, Star-Lord cultivates a found family, giving his life meaning and purpose. In Supergirl, the only family Kara has -- aside from her older, "nerdy" cousin (her words, not mine) -- is her loyal dog, Krypto. And it doesn't take long before his life is put in peril, sending her on a galaxy-hopping mission to save his life.
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Milly Alcock as Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. Warner Bros. Pictures
Alcock stars alongside Eve Ridley, who plays young Ruthye, a girl who enlists Kara on a dangerous mission of vengeance. Jason Momoa is an absolute blast as the iconic immortal bounty hunter Lobo, while Matthias Schoenaerts twirls his mustache as the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills. (Spoiler: He doesn't have a mustache.)
If you're familiar with the comic book Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, those names should ring a bell. If not, don't fret: The movie strays from the source material enough to make for a fun ride regardless.
David Corenswet appears here and there, tethering the Craig Gillespie-directed outing to Superman, but for the most part, this is a Milly Alcock affair. And her dog Krypto is the key to the whole plot.
When I wrote about Superman last year, I revisited the idea that kindness was the new punk rock. It was a refreshing theme that ran throughout the film. Supergirl doesn't say that; not really.
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