Supergirl

C'mon people—lighten up. This movie is hardly as bad as the general reception said it was when it first came out in theaters. The worst that can be said about it is that it is lacking in a certain level of inspiration: little in these proceedings comes across as unique or inventive, and it seems like a number of opportunities to be clever were left on the table. But to hear tell on arrival, you’d think this film came across like an Ed Wood flick. Not so. The presentation is competent, at least, if not exactly artful, the moral of the story is cliched and maybe a little insipid but not offensively so, and Milly Alcock is fairly likable (certainly visually appealing) as the titular character. Given the amount of disappointment expressed over this film, I'm actually starting to wonder if all that stuff about biases against movies being led by women may have something to it. Typically, I chalk that trope up to movies that are just not that good—I have often found myself agreeing with that mob myself—but there seems to be a lack of proportionality to the judgment made here. I, at least, found this movie amusing and relatively diverting—not necessarily worth today’s outrageous ticket prices, but fine to watch on your streaming service. This outing may not inspire cries of “you go, girl”—not, alas, “woman”—but this Kara should be allowed to get her kicks without being held to too high a standard. After all, it is just a comic book flick; it's no The Dark Knight, nor even a Man of Steel, but it's certainly acceptable. Stop expecting an all-time classic every time out.