Even the more liberal critics in Hollywood are pushing back against Warner Bros.’ upcoming summer superhero film. Supergirl has been labeled “super horrifying” with claims of having “the worst script ever.”
Owen Gleiberman from Variety offered a pretty harsh review as anticipation builds for the film’s global debut this Friday. According to Hollywood Reporter, he criticized the movie for its “disgusting” and “exaggerated” “punk rock attitudes.”
Gleiberman found the film lacking, noting: Supergirl, the second project under James Gunn at DC Studios, appears to think it embodies “punk rock.” He articulates that this is “disgusting.”
“We meet Kara Zor-El, portrayed by Milly Alcock, who seems more like an intergalactic drinker in a Blondie T-shirt (so punk rock!) than the iconic Supergirl we expect, one who’s known for her vibrant spandex suit and heroic saves,” he elaborates.
Gleiberman voiced concern over the primary antagonist, “Clem of the Yellow Hills,” played by Matthias Schoenaerts, describing him as “overly derived” from other sources like Mad Max.
“Clem, a trafficker leading a gang of space pirates called the Brigands, is said to possess the strength of 10,000 people. Yet, we’d prefer if he had that intriguing charm that makes a character worth following,” Gleiberman noted.
Regarding Supergirl, he remarked, “The character is written so one-dimensionally that it’s tough to care about her journey.”
He went on to critique the script, stating, “There’s no coherent story!” and offered spoiler-laden analyses of the characters’ motivations, which he found neither profound nor particularly logical. (I won’t delve into the plot here).
“These motivations prop up a narrative that isn’t intriguing or complex,” he noted about Supergirl. “Perhaps that’s why, despite all the action, the film feels so utterly flat,” he concludes.
Gleiberman didn’t hold back on criticizing James Gunn, suggesting that a supposedly solid script was supposed to be the point. Yet, Supergirl still presents itself with this film.
James Gunn, with Peter Safran, launched DC Studios knowing there was growing superhero fatigue. He often discussed how to cope with that, emphasizing, “No project starts until the script is solid.” This was crucial in an age overloaded with superhero tales. However, the end result was a poor script that merely served as a backdrop for visual effects. Gunn seemed intent on returning comic book films to their roots of strong scripts. So, what does he offer in his second outing? The worst scripted comic book movie I can recall.
Critics also slammed the film’s CGI aliens, suggesting it felt like being “stuck inside a Muppet movie.”
Concluding his thoughts on Supergirl, Gleiberman remarked, “I slowly navigated through this bleak and upsetting spectacle.”
He wrapped up by criticizing director Craig Gillespie, questioning, “Who put him in charge?” While praising his previous works like I, Tonya and Cruella, he added, “[Gillespie]…seems to have produced a product that’s exceedingly generic in behavior and tone. What happened to his distinctively sharp humor? Perhaps the light appeal of Mad Max led him to believe he could subvert the genre with ‘Supergirl.’”
“I yearn for punk rock, but Supergirl is simply a punk disaster,” he concluded somberly.
The film, though expected to be a major draw, has yet to premiere, and forecasts suggest it may struggle at the box office. Reports indicate that its opening weekend revenue could only reach around $39 million against a $250 million budget, which is quite alarming.
