Supergirl Proves The DCU Is Getting 1 Major Thing Right (But I’m Not Sold On The Franchis

As Supergirl rolls out in theaters, the sophomore outing in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new look DCU continues to receive lukewarm reception. With more and more critics and general audiences experiencing Supergirl in theaters, the film continues to hover around the fresh/rotten threshold on Rotten Tomatoes, currently sitting at 58% as of the time of writing.

Some of the movies detractors have argued that it borrows far too heavily from other films, namely Guardians of the Galaxy and Mad Max: Fury Road. Others lament flat humor, a cringe-worthy turn from Jason Momoa, a weak villain, predictable plotting, and poorly executed needle-drops.

Overwhelmingly, however, critics have largely been united in their praise for Milly Alcock’s lead performance as Kara Zor-El. The House of the Dragon alum plays Supergirl with a charisma, authenticity, and underlying vulnerability that adds much-needed emotional depth to an otherwise mediocre superhero outing.

But Supergirl is not the first time that the burgeoning DCU, and even the Zack Snyder-orchestrated DCEU before it, has demonstrated a discrepancy between the quality of its stars and the quality of the movies surrounding them. The DCU is proving that, while succeeding in one hugely important department, the cinematic universe hasn’t come together quite yet.

Superman and Supergirl Show That The DCU Has Nailed Its Casting So Far

When Warner Bros. Pictures released Superman last year, James Gunn’s inaugural film in the DCU was largely praised by fans and critics alike. Sitting at an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received plaudits for its lighthearted tone, especially in comparison to the somber Man of Steel, and its warm, beating heart, punctuated by a great message about how being genuinely decent and compassionate is the ultimate ‘punk rock.’

Although opinions on Superman vary, it is clear that many, if not most, of the film’s most positive attributes are tied back to a stellar lead performance from David Corenswet. The Philadelphia native known previously for his roles in Twisters and X emerged out of relative obscurity to craft an exceedingly warm and approachable version of Superman, one deeply in touch with his humanity.

Corenswet’s meteoric rise to stardom following Superman is no coincidence. It is a result of an actor who deftly captured the duality of Superman. The seamless transitions between the clumsy, sweet Clark Kent and the heroic, selfless Superman harkened back to Christopher Reeve’s iconic performance as the Man of Steel, while Corenswet brilliantly embraced the character’s sincerity and empathy.

Casting the lead in a superhero movie is critical to the film’s success, both as an isolated story and the kickstarter for a broader franchise. Robert Downey Jr. proved this with Iron Man. Before him, Hugh Jackman proved this with Wolverine. And last year, David Corenswet joined Downey and Jackman as a truly wonderful piece of superhero movie casting, both evoking what makes the character from the comics so special while bringing something singular and unique to the role.

Milly Alcock does the same in Supergirl. Alcock has led one feature film to date prior to Supergirl, but one would never know that given the extent to which she commands the screen in the new DCU movie. The Australian actress broke onto the scene as a young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon, a character who existed amongst a much grander ensemble. Supergirl, meanwhile, is firmly and unreservedly Alcock’s movie.

Alcock plays Kara Zor-El as the damaged, yet kind-hearted hero that she is in the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic. Underneath her wit and instant likability is trauma that has never properly healed. Even when Alcock is not navigating flashbacks on Krypton or discussing her difficult past with Ruthye (Eve Ridley), she manages to capture the ways in which losing her family have intimately affected every fiber of her being. Her nuanced turn grounds an otherwise interstellar sci-fi adventure and, as most of the great superheroes are, she’s quite fearsome.

The DCU Doesn’t Have Movies That Match the Quality of their Leading Actors’ Performances

Supergirl confronted by someone in the DC movie

While excelling in the casting of the leads of its first two movies, the DCU has thus far failed to give their heroes the movies they deserve.

Superman was a fun film, but its greatest asset was always David Corenswet’s performance as the Big Blue Boy Scout. For as much as James Gunn’s film got right, it fell short in a few areas. Narratively, the movie’s massive cast and jolting pacing made for an overstuffed and overwhelming movie, which culminated in a saccharine resolution.

Supergirl similarly errs in struggling to live up to the brilliance of its leading actor. Similar in some ways to a Guardians of the Galaxy sequel, Gillespie’s film balances humor with action, and in the case of the latter, there’s plenty of that to be found. But it comes to the detriment of the lead character’s arc, as some of the action sequences provide little more than a distraction or contribute much to the overarching story.

As for the jokes, Supergirl does indeed have its moments. But just as it was with Superman, some of its comedic beats felt over-the-top or jarring in terms of how they didn’t with the mood of a scene. Ultimately, both Supergirl and Superman are quality, entertaining popcorn movies, but don’t exactly match the potential that the stellar casting for their respective lead characters promised.

The Future Of The DCU Lies In Coupling Great Casting with Great Movies

James Gunn at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Superman

James Gunn and the other creatives masterminding the DCU should be commended for casting Superman and Supergirl, amongst others, so well, but problems await if they do not course correct.

One only needs to look back a few years to the previous DC universe to see how solid casting does not sufficiently keep a franchise alive. After initial misgivings about his casting as Batman, Ben Affleck received universal praise for his performance as the Caped Crusader, with fans clamoring for an Affleck-directed solo Batman movie that never came to fruition. Jason Momoa transformed a relatively silly superhero who could talk to fish into a charismatic, ruggedly charming badass. Henry Cavill, meanwhile, brought unexpected vulnerability to his turn as Superman, portraying a character more defined by his legacy of sacrifice and the ramifications of his choices than his innate perfection.

The DCEU, like the DCU so far, achieved great casting (almost entirely) across the board, but the franchise’s 10-year run was far from smooth sailing. While some of the franchise’s movies, in particular those directed by Zack Snyder, have a passionate and vocal group of supporters, the installments of the DCEU were mostly met with middling reception, at best. Between rushed team-up, incomprehensible stories, and an overly grim tone, the franchise could not stay afloat after so many poorly received installments.

James Gunn and Peter Safran should heed the warning to avoid a fate similar to the DCEU. Solid casting proves crucial in ensuring the longevity of superhero franchises, but history suggests casting alone is not sufficient. The likes of David Corenswet of Superman and Milly Alcock as Supergirl require movies worthy of their brilliance if the DCU is to survive longer than its predecessor.