Film review: Supergirl delivers gritty action-comedy on female decline

The new era of DC comics films continues with "Supergirl," a science fiction adventure featuring an "anti-hero" narrative. The film introduces Australian actress Milly Alcock in the titular role, stepping in as a more complex and perhaps less conventionally heroic character than Superman.

"Supergirl" arrives as Superman's "perfect" persona begins to feel stale, positioning the cousin character as a potential secret weapon for the franchise. Introduced in comics in 1959, Supergirl's cinematic debut in the 1984 film "Supergirl" was a critical and commercial disappointment, leading to speculation that this new iteration might face a similar fate.

Critic Tero Kartastenpää suggests that "Supergirl" finds its footing primarily when the main character begins to grapple with her morality. This suggests a focus on character development and ethical exploration within the action-packed framework typical of superhero films.

The film aims to offer a "gritty action-comedy" that delves into themes of female decline, presenting a potentially darker and more mature take on the superhero genre. The success of this new approach remains to be seen as the DC cinematic universe continues its evolution.

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Supergirl arrives when Superman's perfection gets boring, i.e. quickly.