If Superman symbolized hope and Wonder Woman justice, "Supergirl" speaks of goodwill. Rather than a heroic tale of toppling absolute evil, it focuses on the growth of a girl who ultimately chooses good intentions even in the face of revenge, depicting a belief that goodwill can awaken yet more goodwill. By concentrating on the process by which a wavering, deeply wounded being protects her own goodness, rather than the thrill of punishing evil, the film completes a narrative of a different texture from existing superhero works, critics say.
The film portrays the inner growth of Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), who lost her family in the destruction of the planet Krypton, as she meets Lucy (Eve Ridley), who is pursuing the killer of her parents. Kara, who had been living lost in alcohol and music after losing the meaning of life, does not readily join Lucy's revenge at first. But when Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts), the leader of a pirate band, fires a poison dart at Krypto, the dog who is like Kara's last remaining family, and a situation arises in which the antidote must be obtained within 72 hours, she sets out on a dangerous journey. Kara, who begins to act not to save the world but to protect a precious being, learns along the way how to extend a hand to others, and builds a coming-of-age narrative as she persuades Lucy, who is trying to take revenge on her enemy.
The narrative of "Supergirl" recalls Kant's "good will." It is the will to choose good because it is right, not because of results or rewards. The film pays attention to the choice to ultimately choose life and goodwill even in the face of the temptation of revenge, rather than to the power of toppling evil. In the end, the process by which Kara and Lucy learn the possibility of a different choice instead of revenge through each other shows that the heroism this film speaks of lies not in power but in choice.
"Supergirl," DC Studios' second DC Universe film following "Superman," is rich in spectacle as well as a coming-of-age narrative. The visuals that bring out retro colors and analog sensibilities, the distinctive creatures, and the action with bursting heat vision add the warmth of a fairy tale and the thrill of a blockbuster.
