While a lot of fans had mixed responses to Gunn\u2019s Superman<\/strong>, there were two aspects that earned consistent praise. One of David Corenswet\u2019s idealistic portrayal of Superman. His hip-to-be-square, \u201ckindness is the new punk-rock\u201d attitude undeniably resonated, but his screentime had to be limited in the new film, to avoid overshadowing Supergirl. Yet, perhaps the prior film\u2019s greatest asset was the CGI Krypto, who became an internet sensation. However, poor Krypto spends most of the new DC film painfully sidelined, as a particularly cruel poison courses through his body.
<\/ins>
Blame the red sun. Uncomfortable with the superhero role her cousin Kal-El (a.k.a. Superman) assumes she\u2019ll warm to eventually, Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) has been drinking herself into a stupor on a planet with a red sun, where Kryptonians\u2019 powers will not work (hence her states of inebriation). Sadly, that left her powerless (so to speak), when Krem (\u201cof the Yellow Hills,\u201d as he is fully known in Tom King\u2019s comic mini-series<\/a>, on which Ana Nogueira\u2019s screenplay was based) stole her space-faring camper and shot a toxic dart into Krypto.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Supergirl-2-1024x532.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\u00a9Courtesy of Warner Brothers\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
To save Krypto, Zor-El must find Krem and the antidote, hopefully on a planet with a yellow sun. To do so, she will have the help (and perhaps hindrance) of Ruthye Marye Knoll, a young girl out to avenge the murder of her sword-smithing parents. Despite her understandable rage, Knoll is na\u00efve and guileless. Zor-El considers her a potential liability, especially when they cross-paths with Lobo, an alien bounty hunter (and technically mass murderer, but he is a fan-favorite among comic readers anyway), who is also tracking Krem\u2019s Brigands. \u00a9Courtesy of Warner Brothers\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Indeed, the sense of wonder and uplifting spirit that made the Ryan Gosling film such a smash hit are largely missing from Supergirl<\/strong>. Instead, it returns to the Snyderverse<\/strong>\u2019s program of deconstructing superheroes. Admittedly, Gunn\u2019s Superman<\/strong> had its dark moments, like Lex Luthor threatening the life of Metamorpho\u2019s infant son, but in that film, darkness was something to overcome. Gillespie\u2019s Supergirl<\/strong> largely embraces it instead. \u00a9Courtesy of Warner Brothers\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Nevertheless, Eve Ridley is quite impressive as young Ruthye. King reportedly cited True Grit<\/strong><\/a> (the novel) as an inspiration for his 8-issue source comics. Viewers can really get that from her earnest, anguished performance. Admittedly, Milly Alcock fully commits to degenerate, self-destructive conception of Zor-El, who would better fit into a superhero version of Absolutely Fabulous<\/strong><\/a> than the Justice League immortalized in Saturday morning Super Friends<\/strong><\/a> cartoons. Inevitably, though, her unrelenting petulance becomes depressing. If you like the review, share your thoughts below!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n
<\/ins>
From a brand marketer\u2019s perspective, Supergirl<\/strong> is a very frustrating film, because Zor-El\u2019s ambivalence regarding super-heroing means she rarely wears the iconic suit and cape. Shifting the action onto alien planets also disconnects the film from the more familiar worlds of the DC Universe. Zor-El rarely steps foot on Earth and she never visits Oa, the headquarters of the Lantern Corps (who have their own upcoming DC streaming series). Frankly, the planets and aliens all look rather generic. In contrast, Rocky in Project Hail Mary<\/strong><\/a> was essentially a pile of rocks, but thanks to his personality, he became one of the most memorable movie characters of the year.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Supergirl-3-1024x540.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n
At least the introduction of Jason Momoa as Lobo is a smashing success. He is responsible for at least 98% of the film\u2019s fun. Obviously, Momoa has the right imposing physicality, but his cocky swagger is far more significant. Aside from the Kryptonians, he is the only character who is likely to play any future role in the Gunn continuity. On the other hand, Matthias Schoenaerts underwhelms as Krem, who looks like an aspiring Hellraiser<\/strong><\/a> cenobite, with facial upholstery studs in place of the usual pins and needles. ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Supergirl-4-1024x540.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n
Although Supergirl and Lobo emerge as distinctive characters, their off-earth exploits fail to expand the \u201cGunn-verse\u201d in ways that fire-up the imagination. Frankly, the much-maligned Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu<\/strong><\/a> serves up better interstellar CGI adventure. Disappointingly, Gillespie\u2019s film represents a missed opportunity to build on the positive vibes of Gunn\u2019s Superman<\/strong>. Mostly recommended\u2014super-ironically\u2014for fans of the Snyderverse<\/strong>, Supergirl<\/strong> opens this Friday (6\/26) in theaters.
Grade: C+<\/p>\r\n