Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton
Week of June 22, 2026
Supergirl
Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, action, language, and smoking
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54%
In Theaters
At the end of last year’s Superman reboot we found out that Superman’s dog, Krypto, was actually the pet of his cousin, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl (Milly Alcock). This story plays as a prequel, but not quite an origin story. The setup occurs as a young girl’s entire family is killed by a villain with super strength, known as Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). The girl (Eve Ridley) wants revenge and seeks out anyone brave enough to help her. Supergirl just happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time (a bar on a distant planet where alcohol has greater effect on her) when she finds herself forced to protect the girl from the villains she is trying to recruit. The two have a run-in with Krem and Krypto is shot with a poisonous dart that will kill her best friend unless she finds the antidote within 3 days. The unlikely team go after Krem, one to avenge her family and the other to save her pet. The story is definitely serviceable, especially since it is most action and very little fluff. We do get a backstory for her origin, but it is quick and painless and actually sheds light (literally) on some important Superman lore. I’ve never really had a lot of interest in the Supergirl storyline, but I found this to be a rather compelling spinoff idea. First off, and I thought this last year, the dog is genius. Without Krypto, this new franchise would have a tough time generating this much interest. I find that we are immediately taken with the plot here and ready to rescue the super canine. I liked the approach they took making it a buddy pic of sorts, but while I think Milly was a great piece of casting, I didn’t think much of Ruthye’s character and Krem seemed more like a baddie from Guardians of the Galaxy than from the DC Universe. The only A-lister in the cast is Jason Momoa as the wild card Lobo, another part I’m not sure we needed but who at least added some comedic effect. Once again, this summer delivers another film that I didn’t love yet didn’t hate. I did find some potential for the franchise, but I’m still not sure what they are going to do with it. While James Gunn didn’t direct this one (it was helmed by Cruella director Craig Gillespie) you can still see his fingerprints all over it. I’m hoping that eventually that will be a good thing and not what we ended up getting towards the end of Zach Snyder’s run. B-