StarCentral’s Verdict On Supergirl: Is It Worth Your Time And Money??

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Going into Supergirl, there was genuine excitement about seeing Kara Zor-El finally take centre stage in the new DCU. Unfortunately, what plays out on screen is a film that often feels unsure of who it actually belongs to — and by the end, you’re left wondering why the title character sometimes feels like a guest in her own story.

At its core, the biggest issue is focus. The film repeatedly shifts attention to a secondary character who is pushed so heavily into the spotlight that she begins to feel like the emotional lead. The problem isn’t just screen time — it’s that she’s given little justification for the attention she receives. Her dialogue is grating, her presence becomes increasingly distracting, and, worst of all, she lacks a meaningful arc that would earn her dominance in the narrative.

This imbalance, unfortunately, undermines what could have been a strong Supergirl vehicle. The screenplay itself is surprisingly undercooked considering the budget and creative talent involved. The pacing drags, the emotional beats land flat, and the story often feels like it’s moving from set piece to set piece without much connective tissue holding it together.

That said, Milly Alcock is one of the film’s clear highlights. Her take on Supergirl carries genuine charisma and screen presence, effortlessly embodying both vulnerability and power. The film hints at a compelling contrast between her and Superman — optimism versus trauma — and when the script allows it, Alcock absolutely delivers. She’s arguably the only reason the film remains watchable through its weaker stretches.

Jason Momoa’s Lobo is another standout. He clearly has a blast in the role, bringing chaotic energy, humour, and swagger to every scene he’s in. The issue, however, is that he feels underutilised in the broader narrative, reduced to entertaining moments rather than anything truly essential to the plot.

Elsewhere, supporting characters like Ruthye Marye Knoll and Krem feel underwritten. Ruthye’s revenge arc never quite develops beyond its surface premise, while Krem lacks the menace needed to feel like a genuine threat — outside of some incidental violence that never fully raises the stakes.

On a technical level, Supergirl is competent, even occasionally impressive. The cinematography is a step up from Superman, with wider, more dynamic framing in action sequences instead of relying on constant close-ups. The production design is also a strong point, particularly in how it contrasts different planets and environments, giving the film a varied visual identity. Lobo’s styling deserves special mention — the makeup and design perfectly capture his punk-rock aesthetic.

However, the visual effects are inconsistent, especially in some flying sequences, and the editing doesn’t always help the film’s already uneven pacing. The score and overall sound design are serviceable but not particularly memorable, which adds to the sense that the film rarely reaches emotional or cinematic highs.

Where Supergirl struggles most is its storytelling. The first act sets up an intriguing foundation, introducing Kara’s fractured emotional state and hinting at a deeper exploration of grief and revenge. But once the journey begins in earnest, the film loses direction. Instead of evolving those themes meaningfully, it often resorts to exposition-heavy dialogue and surface-level explanations of character motivations.

There’s a strong idea buried somewhere in here — a story about two broken individuals processing trauma in different ways — but it never fully matures. Too much is told rather than shown, and too often the emotional weight feels explained rather than earned.

The tonal balance is another sticking point. The film occasionally leans into humour, but it rarely lands cleanly, leading to awkward shifts between seriousness and levity. At times the chaotic energy feels intentional, reflecting Supergirl’s unstable mindset, but it doesn’t always translate into coherent storytelling.

Overall, Supergirl is a mixed debut for the character in the DCU. It isn’t a disaster, but it’s far from the confident, character-driven superhero film it should have been. Compared to Superman, it feels like a step backwards in terms of narrative clarity and emotional impact, even if it improves slightly on visual presentation.

Milly Alcock’s performance and Jason Momoa’s Lobo keep it afloat, but the film around them struggles to find its identity. For casual viewers, it’s hard to call this essential viewing — and even for DC fans, it feels more like a cautious experiment than a fully realised chapter in a new universe.

There are glimpses of what Supergirl could become, but as it stands, this is a film with strong components that never quite come together into something memorable.

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars