First reactions to Supergirl are in, and they land as a mixed bag. Ahead of its June 26 theatrical release, Craig Gillespie's DC Studios film is drawing praise for Millie Alcock and Jason Momoa even as some early viewers say the movie does not fully stick the landing.
That split matters because Supergirl is opening after Alcock already had a cameo in last summer's Superman, giving audiences a built-in reference point for how this new chapter handles Kara. The film is now being searched for the same reason critics were posting about it: people want to know whether it is a hard-edged companion to Superman or something more uneven.
Among the early reactions, Chris Killian of Comicbook.com was one of the most enthusiastic about the film's texture, saying it felt like a blend of Guardians of the Galaxy, True Grit and Mad Max. He praised Alcock, especially once the story gets into Kara's tragic backstory, and said Momoa's Lobo looks to be having the fraggin' time of his life. He also highlighted the practical effects and called David Corenswet's Superman peak casting, a strong endorsement for a film still trying to define its own identity.
Other reactions were warmer toward the performances than the movie as a whole. Erik Davis compared Supergirl to the underdog rock n' roll attitude of Guardians of the Galaxy and the grimy ruthlessness of Mad Max, but said the emotional core comes from Alcock's aloofness and melancholy. He also said Momoa is used just enough to satisfy while still leaving viewers wanting more, and called Corenswet the perfect choice to portray Superman. Fay Watson of Total Film went further, saying Alcock is perfect and brings humour, heart and incredible drunk acting, while Fico Cangiano called the film a solid follow-up to last summer's Superman with a cooler intergalactic road trip feel.
But the praise was not universal. Tessa Smith called the movie a mixed bag, saying Momoa and Alcock shine while some adaptation choices and a bland villain keep it from greatness. John Nguyen of Nerd Reactor was sharper still, saying the film felt bland and that he left wishing it had been given stronger material to show what it can really do. Germain Lussier was more positive overall, calling it highly enjoyable and incredibly emotional, but still said it does not have the resonance of Superman.
That is the fault line running through the first wave of reactions: Supergirl is getting attention for Alcock, Momoa and its rougher, road-movie energy, but several early takes suggest the movie may be less complete than its best moments. With June 26 now close, the question is not whether the film has personality. It is whether enough viewers will think that personality adds up to something bigger than a promising first swing.
