I've never read 'Woman of Tomorrow', the Tom King comic book miniseries that Supergirl is supposed to be inspired by. In fact I've never read a Supergirl comic at all.
Which means I have no expectations for this movie to live up to. Much like all the comic book characters I love on the big and small screens - I've barely read any of their comics (even when I was in my prime comic book years of my youth. I read more Archie comics than anything because I could get their book collections for free - and my comic of choice was Mad Magazine so... there's that).
All this to say, I can only judge these comic book characters from what I've seen before on screens.
I've seen the original 80's Supergirl movie with Helen Slater (she's fine, the movie not so much). I've watched at least the first season of the CW Supergirl show with Melissa Benoist (Melissa's awesome in the role - she really commits to it, easily going from sweet to I'll burn your eyes out convincingly). My favorite to date is Sasha Calle's version of the character in The Flash, just because it was a very unique take, and her Supergirl has one of the best fight scenes of any Supergirl when she's escaping from her Russian prison with Batman and the two Barry Allen's.
One thing I can say about the Tom King comic, based on its synopsis, which does sound very close to this movie, is the title has nothing to do with the story. If it does, then that bit must be completely skipped in the film because you wouldn't call this movie 'Woman of Tomorrow' either.
The basic story is some rando, evil human/alien trafficker type, poisons Supergirl's dog Krypto, and she has 72 hours to get the antidote back to him... oh, and some other rando kid wants revenge on the same person, for killing her parents, so she's coming along too.
If you can see how the title 'Woman of Tomorrow' fits into that then let me know. I would've called it 'Supergirl Saves Krypto... and some other stuff happens'.
Anyway, Milly Alcock's Supergirl is a more rock'n'roll, party hard, PTSD, take on the character, but still, essentially good in her own way. Although maybe a bit more of a 'do as I say, not as I do' kind of good as the movie unfolds.
She's still dealing with the trauma of losing everything during the destruction and downfall of her home world of Krypton, and hasn't been on Earth for long enough to yet to even feel like it could be her new home. In fact she's deliberately going to planets with red suns so she can be de-powered enough to feel the effects of too much drinking.
In one of these trips she comes across Ruthye (Eve Ridley) a young girl seeking revenge for the death of her family at the hands of a villainous alien called Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts) who randomly shoots Krypto with a poison arrow as he leaves the planet.
The rest of the film is largely a road trip style movie across space, with the two girls in pursuit of Krem.
Along the way they cross paths with Lobo (Jason Momoa) who is having a great time (as other reviewers have said) in this movie but really has no reason to be in it. He just happens to be looking for Krem also.
Supergirl isn't a very deeply messaged film. It tries to pull at the heart strings but we haven't really spent enough time with any of these characters to really care enough - except maybe Krypto if you've seen and enjoyed the previous Superman movie.
At best it serves as an origin story for Supergirl, (a.k.a. Kara) and introduces us to her trauma, so we can understand why she showed up drunk at the end of Superman.
Presumably Lobo will show up in a future film, so it's something of an introduction to him too.
It's not a bad movie. I did enjoy it. If you just want to see Supergirl fight various groups of aliens, it delivers for the most part. There's also quite a bit of off Earth world building here, giving you a sense that all kinds of alien lifeforms are present in this new DCU that James Gunn is building. I particularly enjoyed the 'Space Bus' we see Kara catching in the trailers as an idea (does it have a stop on Earth?).
While other reviewers have said this film has Mad Max, Furiosa, Guardians of the Galaxy type vibes (and I don't disagree), the overall style wouldn't look out of place as part of Zach Snyder's DCEU, more so than it looks part of James Gunn's DCU. Only the scenes with Superman (David Corenswet) in them really tie this to the DCU.
I will say the film ends with the character of Kara in an odd place mentally. It feels like she may have to start finding out who she is in a future film if Milly is ever given that chance.
If you're a die hard fan of Supergirl in the comics, Milly's Supergirl may not be 'your' Supergirl. If you're open to other interpretations well, this is an other interpretation. I liked it, though I think I prefer Sasha's version a little more - which is a little less pop culture references and a little more figuring out her place on Earth for the short time she is given.
This film, I feel, is still a fun time at the movies. It's not a big, world ending epic. It's a small story across 72 hours of space time. You get to see Supergirl be a bad ass, and you get to see Jason Momoa live his dream of playing Lobo. It's fine for their first time out.
Hopefully, now we're past introductions, Supergirl (and maybe Lobo) will get a much better story next time we see them. Definitely worth seeing, even if you decide to wait for it on a streaming service.
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