Supergirl

SUPERGIRL (PG)

D: Jeannot Szwarc

Cantharus/Salkind (Timothy Burrill)

UK 1984

124 mins

Science Fiction

W: David Odell

DP: Alan Hume

Ed: Malcolm Cooke

Mus: Jerry Goldsmith

PD: Richard MacDonald

Helen Slater (Kara Zor-El / Linda Lee), Faye Dunaway (Selena), Peter O'Toole (Zaltar), Brenda Vaccaro (Bianca), Peter Cook (Nigel), Maureen Teefy (Lucy Lane), Hart Bochner (Ethan), Mia Farrow (Alura), Simon Ward (Zor-El)

Following the success of the three previous Superman films (not including Superman IV), the producers jumped at the chance to expand the universe, introducing Superman's cousin, visiting Earth to retrieve a magical orb which has fallen into the possession of a witch whose use of it has made her own black magic more powerful.

The film has some major flaws, especially in a weak story full of plot holes and characters behaving ridiculously, including Supergirl herself whose first port of call on Earth is to enrol in an all-girl's school where she can solve algebra problems and play some hockey with Lois Lane's sister, who also happens to be a student at the school. Eventually, a face off does occur between good and evil, but it's over a man rather than anything else.

Helen Slater was a perfect choice for the part and she really deserved a better script to work with, as she really is the shining light of the movie. The poorer casting decisions come in the form of Faye Dunaway, who shamelessly vamps through every scene, and Peter O'Toole, who is clearly just participating for the money. Peter Cook also appears as intended comic relief, but his character is more dull than amusing.

Though it has since become a camp cult favourite, it didn't garner any favour with audiences or critics upon its original release, becoming one of 1984's biggest box office flops.

4/10