In 1978 Richard Donner’s Superman became not only first modern superhero film, but also started first superhero film series. It took decades for superhero films to take hold in Hollywood and this could be attributed to that series’ inglorious demise. It, ironically, started with Supergirl, 1984 spin-off directed by Jeannot Szwarc, which, was, ironically, first superhero film featuring female protagonist.
The plot begins in Argo City, community whose members survived destruction of Superman’s native planet Krypton by emigrating to so-called “inner space”. Protagonist, played by Helen Slater, is Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El who likes to spend time with Zaltar (played by Peter O’Toole), Argo City’s eccentric artist who borrows Omegahedron, artefact powering the city, for his creation. During one of their encounters Kara accidentally loses Omegahedron, which is sucked into trans-dimensional tunnel and brought to Earth. Without it, the city will perish and Kara goes to retrieve it. The item, however, ends in the hands of Selena (played by Faye Dunaway), fortune teller and aspiring witch at fairground near Midvale, Illinois. She gradually learns about its abilities and decides to use it in order to establish total world domination. In the meantime Kara arrives at Midvale and takes identity of Linda Lee, pupil at local all-girl schools. Kara and Selena’s paths cross when Selena gets attracted to school’s groundskeeper and puts love spell on him which inadvertently make him fall in love with Linda/Kara instead.
Supergirl represented attempt by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, producers behind the original film, to breathe new life into the series following relative failure of Superman III. The project experienced problems, starting with Christopher Reeve’s reluctance to repeat the role of Superman and making absence of his character explained in rather lame and unconvincing way in the film. Due to poor test screening, film was distributed in USA in shortened version, which made the plot confusing. This hardly helped Supergirl at the box-office and the film turned into massive flop. Critics were even less merciful and Faye Dunaway and Peter O’Toole were nominated for Razzies. Salkinds at the end decided to sell their franchise to infamous B-film studio The Cannon Group which would end the series with Superman IV: The Quest for Peace three years later.
While some of this film’s bad reputation is quite justified, there are elements that make it satisfying and enjoyable experience, at least in its longer version that was initially distributed in non-US markets. Like previous films in Superman series, it features more more than solid special effects that, despite lack of CGI, look convincing and effective even after near four decades. Jerry Goldsmith provides musical score which, despite lack of originality and need to be associated to John Williams’ motives in 1978 soundtrack, proves quite effective. But the greatest asset of the film is Helen Slater, young actress who, just like Christopher Reeve in first film, went through rigorous physical training and detailed preparations for the role which would ultimately be the best and the most iconic in her career. In it she convincingly delivers combination of charm, youthful naivety and determination to do the right thing. Unfortunately, Slater’s efforts were ruined by terrible script by David Odell which adds element of supernatural in the world of Superman which was supposed to be strictly science fiction. Even worse is choice of evil (and often inept) witch for the villain, which leads to terrible overacting by Faye Dunaway, making the film sillier than it’s supposed to be. Many characters are redundant, like Selena’s companion Bianca (played by Brenda Vaccaro) or Linda Lee’s schoolmate Lucy Lane (played by Maureen Teefy), while Selena’s reluctant partner and warlock Nigel (played by British comedian Peter Cook) is underwritten. The plot, in which Selena’s evil plans manifests no further from provincial Illinois town, also looks somewhat parochial compared with epic stories of previous films and there are some serious plot holes. Peter O’Toole being somewhat disinterested in his role doesn’t help Supergirl. However, director Szwarc provides adequate general direction and the film provides silly but good-natured entertainment for children or audience that isn’t too demanding. Helen Slater, sadly, didn’t have opportunity to repeat this particular role, but she later appeared in Smallville and Supergirl, TV shows set in the same fictional universe.
RATING: 5/10 (+)
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