Movie Review: Supergirl
A drunken Supergirl in a ‘Mad Max’-like battle. Not exactly truth, justice and the American way.
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Guest (Female): Was it like to lose everything in a day? Krypton didn't die in a day. The gods are not that kind.
Adam Holz: In the new movie Supergirl, now in theaters, the team at Warner Brothers DC Comics division continues to build out the latest iteration of its cinematic universe. Next up: Kara Zor-El, better known as Supergirl.
Supergirl is hardly a newcomer to this spandex-wearing hero scene. The CW’s popular show by the same name wrapped up six seasons in 2021. And while it had its share of problems, the show’s depiction of the main character stayed close to the original comic heroine—an all-American young woman equally full of empathy and compassion, spunk and superpowers, and an aversion to kryptonite, of course.
Alas, DC head honcho James Gunn has steered Kara’s course in a different direction with this film. This time around, she’s a drunken loner who seemingly cares little for others. Still, she gets roped into helping an orphan young woman who’s intent upon exacting revenge upon those who killed her family.
Guest (Female): Do you have any information on the Brigands?
Guest (Male): That sort of information's gonna cost you.
Guest (Female): I'll tell you what: I'll arm wrestle you for her. You win, and you can have us both. I win, and you can tell us where the Brigands are.
Adam Holz: At times, the resulting story feels more like Mad Max than a DC superhero flick. Now, to her credit, Kara tries to talk the young woman out of seeking retribution. And along the way, we learn about some of the pain that has shaped Kara’s own deep-rooted cynicism.
She ultimately has some heroic moments, but the plot’s path is paved with language, toilet humor, violence, and drinking. The result is an often grim and gritty story that parents might feel is less than super.
So we’re giving Supergirl a two and a half out of five for family-friendliness. Read the full review at pluggedin.com/radio. I’m Adam Holz with the Plugged In Movie Review by Focus on the Family.
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About Plugged In Entertainment Reviews
Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
Each month, PluggedIn.com is visited more than 1 million times by people looking for detailed information about what's really in popular movies, videos, television episodes, songs and games. Entertainment industry ratings only tell you so much. We go deeper, diving into specific content and the meaning behind it. Our award-winning website also offers news and blogs.About Adam Holz, Paul Asay and Johnathan McKee
Adam Holz After serving as an associate editor at NavPress' Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In's reviews along with hosting The Plugged In Show and the Plugged In Entertainment Review radio feature.
Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books. He has over 20 years youth ministry experience and speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, He can be heard each week on the Plugged In Entertainment Review radio feature and The Plugged In Show. You can follow Jonathan on his blog, getting a regular dose of youth culture and parenting help. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.
Contact Plugged In Entertainment Reviews with Adam Holz, Paul Asay and Johnathan McKee
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