Supergirl: Space Travel, Family Drama, and One Very Good Dog

Supergirl begins with Kara Zor-El doing what any twenty-something would do after a traumatic childhood: travel the galaxy, drink on red-sun planets, and avoid answering Superman’s phone calls. Honestly, relatable, although most family members cannot fly through space to check on us.

Milly Alcock gives Kara plenty of attitude beneath the cape. This is not the endlessly hopeful version of the character; she is rougher around the edges, carrying grief, anger, and enough baggage to require its own spaceship. When Ruthye, a young alien seeking revenge, asks for Kara’s help, the two set off after Krem, an unpleasant space pirate. Krypto comes along, naturally, because every superhero franchise eventually learns that the dog is the important character.

The film’s strongest idea is the contrast between Kara and Superman. He was raised on Earth by loving parents; she remembers losing almost everything. Their relationship gives the movie more emotional texture than another speech about saving humanity deserves. It also lets Kara be messy without making her unlikable, which is a tricky balance and one Alcock handles well.

The interstellar setting keeps things colorful and strange, while the revenge story gives the action a personal stake. Some of the cosmic wandering feels familiar, and the movie occasionally reaches for epic importance when a good joke would have done the job faster. Still, it has energy, heart, and a dog who deserves top billing.

Supergirl is a scruffier, more emotional superhero adventure: not perfect, but fun company for a trip across the galaxy.