Supergirl (Clam)

In a second viewing years later I can appreciate this film much more. The special effects are good; the flying sequences are actually beautiful. Slater is better than I remembered her too.

Supergirl lacks the sense of wonder that Superman and Superman II had, but it really is a very fun film and in all honesty, it is vastly superior to the last two Superman films. Sure, this one has camp elements to it, but I really think it adds to the enjoyment.

I find it hard to really hate any film with Faye Dunaway, but even putting that bias aside Supergirl does not deserve its stinker reputation - as other reviewers here have obviously also discovered.

The DVD edition is great, but I find it a little sad watching the making of documentary in which cast and crew prematurely discuss the film's imminent blockbuster status and Helen Slater's imminent superstar status. Perhaps they jinxed it?


SUPERJOKE!!!!!!!!!!   November 25, 2001
 3 out of 6 found this review helpful

This film is nothing but a shameless cash in on the Superman series. There is no plot, the special FX were sub standard even back in 1984. The acting is really awful. Dunaway and Cook are really out of place in this film. This film is so annoyingly campy it makes Superman 3 & 4 seem like horror movies in comparison. The action scenes are tepid and unimaginative. I generally dislike female incarnations of male superheroes (like Batgirl!!) as it is a sign of a lack of creativity on the part of the comic book writers. It is much better to create a new female superhero, rather than to just recycle the traits of existing superheroes into female characters. The only saving grace of this turkey is the performance by Helen Slater who puts her best into the role, particularily that of Supergirl's alter ego of Linda Lee. Unfortunately she is not really given any great dialogue playing Supergirl as the story declines into some silly romantic comedy when it should have focused on the conflict between good and evil. I'm glad that this film flopped at the box office in 1984. This had the knock on effect of no more sequels, as well as the banishment of Slater to the realms of B list movies!!!!


Maybe not four stars.   May 28, 2001
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Admittedly, my lust for Helen Slater in her Supergirl costume has something to do with pushing this past three stars. Somehow, the Salkinds were of the opinion that making this as silly as possible would make it a hit. They threw in the requisite all-star cast, with Mark McClure (Jimmy Olsen) along to tie it into the "Superman" movies. And, a poster-only appearance by Christopher Reeve. But the scenes with Faye Dunaway, Brenda Vaccaro and Peter Cook are just too over-the-top to make them viable villians. (They should've called Gene Hackman for lessons on walking the fine line between parody and menace.) Slater gives Linda/Supergirl just the right heart and enough sex appeal to keep this one from being a total waste. But it makes for a fun diversion when you have nothing else to watch.