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- Helen Slater Is the Only Saving Grace of ‘Supergirl’
- The 1984 ‘Supergirl’ Needed Christopher Reeve’s Superman
- The 1984 ‘Supergirl’ Nearly Doomed Female-Driven Superhero Movies
As a lifelong comic book enthusiast who has seen my fair share of superhero movies, let me tell you that the 1984 flop “Supergirl” left a sour taste in many fans’ mouths. I remember being excited for this movie, but the disappointment was palpable when it hit the big screen. It wasn’t just the comedic approach that turned me off; the film lacked the emotional depth and character development that made the original “Superman” movies so endearing.
In the 1970s, the producers of the initial Superman film franchise, Alexander and Ilya Salkind, obtained the rights for the Superman character along with those for Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El (also known as Supergirl). They had intended to introduce Supergirl in Superman III, portraying her as Superman’s love interest.
In the spring of 1982, prior to the production of “Superman III”, the Salkinds decided that instead of introducing Supergirl in the movie, they would produce a standalone “Supergirl” film as a means to rejuvenate the entire series. The series had been affected by the disappointing commercial and critical reception of “Superman III”. Just like they did with Christopher Reeve, an unknown actor at the time, for Superman, the Salkinds chose then 19-year-old actress Helen Slater, who was relatively unknown, to portray Supergirl in her first major role.
Regrettably, Slater’s casting was almost the sole intelligent move for the movie, as it was marred by over-the-top character portrayals and dialogue, tacky special effects, a simplistic plot, and, most significantly, a lack of respect for its underlying story. Released during the 1984 Christmas season, the film Supergirl turned out to be both a financial and critical flop.
As it celebrates its 40th anniversary, the movie “Supergirl” – currently holding an 8% score on Rotten Tomatoes – is often seen as one of, if not the poorest DC film ever produced. Despite this first “Supergirl” film’s seemingly unshakeable place in cinematic history, there is genuine interest in whether the upcoming movie “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” can undo the harm caused by its predecessor by learning from its mistakes.
Helen Slater Is the Only Saving Grace of Supergirl
Just as Christopher Reeve brought humor and an impressive physique to the Superman character, Helen Slater also possesses the ability, similar to Reeve, to don a superhero costume without appearing awkward or self-conscious. With her radiant smile, robust health, captivating eyes, and unyielding spirit, Slater embodies Supergirl, particularly since, like Reeve, she portrays the role with great sincerity.
One important aspect that made the first two Superman movies so captivating was their sincere portrayal of the character, which allowed viewers to find humor in the content. However, when Superman III opted for a more comedic style, with the inclusion of comedian Richard Pryor, the series veered off course and lost its originality. Similarly, Supergirl unfortunately follows suit by finding humor within itself rather than allowing the audience to do so.
In the TV show called Supergirl, the character portrayed by Slater, Kara Zor-El, is compelled to depart from her home planet, Argo City, and journey to Earth to retrieve a potent orb crucial for its preservation. Later on, when Supergirl adopts her civilian persona, Linda Lee, the show opts for an adversary as menacing and unforgettable as Lex Luthor, portrayed by Gene Hackman, or the ruthless General Zod, but instead sets Supergirl against an evil witch named Selena. Faye Dunaway plays this character with a flamboyant, self-deprecating air.
Besides Dunaway, Slater also appears in the movie ‘Supergirl’, sharing screen time with the esteemed Peter O’Toole, portraying a wise wizard guide for Supergirl. However, it appears that Slater’s character is largely left on her own in ‘Supergirl’, as she doesn’t get any intriguing lines or actions. On the other hand, Superman, in the initial two ‘Superman’ movies, is seen repairing damaged dams, rescuing helicopters, and even chucking a hydrogen bomb into space. In contrast, ‘Supergirl’ spends a significant portion of her screen time in the titular movie fighting against Dunaway’s witch over a boy who isn’t particularly worth contending for.
The 1984 ‘Supergirl’ Needed Christopher Reeve’s Superman
In the initial plan for Supergirl, Christopher Reeve’s character, Superman, was envisioned as a guide to Supergirl. She learned to harness her abilities from him, and later needed saving by Supergirl herself after being afflicted by a spell. The reason behind Superman’s absence in Supergirl is given through a news bulletin stating that Superman departed Earth for a mission focused on maintaining peace in a far-off galaxy. The strongest connection to the original Superman movies within Supergirl is established by Marc McClure, who reprises his role as Jimmy Olsen, a part he played in all four films featuring Reeve.
If Chris Reeve had made brief appearances in Supergirl, it could have increased the movie’s appeal by strengthening connections between the films. However, after Reeve chose not to be part of Supergirl, reportedly due to his dissatisfaction with the comedic style of Superman III and his reluctance to replicate that tone in the humor-heavy Supergirl, the film seemed less like a worthy successor to the Superman series, which viewers didn’t have a strong emotional connection to because Reeve was absent.
The 1984 ‘Supergirl’ Nearly Doomed Female-Driven Superhero Movies
The poor performance of Supergirl at the box office, earning only $15 million while costing $35 million to produce, significantly contributed to the scarcity of female-led superhero films in subsequent years. Although numerous female-focused fantasy novels and video game adaptations have thrived during this time span, such as the Hunger Games, Lara Croft, and Resident Evil series, the superhero genre has faced challenges.
1984 marked a particularly dismal year for DC movies, largely due to the release of Supergirl, and this is closely followed by 2004, with Catwoman’s disappointing debut. Both films were box office and critical flops, sharing an unenviable 8% Rotten Tomatoes rating with Supergirl.
In the upcoming movie “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” set within James Gunn’s DC Universe, and following a new take on Superman, Supergirl may find the redemption she seeks on the big screen. This film is the second part of the highly-praised comic book series by Tom King, and stars Milly Alcock as Supergirl. The movie aims to redefine Supergirl’s character, granting her the power and recognition she deserves. You can rent “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” on Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play.
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2024-11-24 18:32