Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Supergirl review admits that the movie is a bit messy and dark, but it’s also exciting, refreshing and moving, mostly thanks to the presence of fluffy sidekick Krypto.

You know the plot of most superhero movies before you see the trailer, read the review or walk into the theater: big scary bad person/robot/alien threatens to destroy the city/world/universe, and only one super powered being, or a team of them working together, can win the fight for salvation.

So it’s a breath of fresh air to come across a superhero movie where the highest stakes are the life of one dog. One fluffy, rambunctious, cape-wearing dog. For me, that actually worked—especially since I recently brought home my own fluffy, rambunctious pup, named after the Rocky in Project Hail Mary.

But personal feelings aside, there are many reasons to like Supergirl, okay, there are also a few reasons not to like the film. But I’m thinking the good outweighs the bad to a watchable degree.

Directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, Lars and the Real Girl) it stars the consummately watchable Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin. Alcock perfectly portrays the depressed, snarky loner with a deep down heart of gold deep down — instantly likable and raucously fun. We first meet Kara in bed, having worn her sunglasses at night. She’s messy, hungover and broody, while her faithful dog Krypto is bouncing, flying, and peeing around her living space.

She seems to be lurching around the universe from one junk heap planet to another, drinking, brawling and suffering from an existential crisis, scarred by the destruction of her home and the loss of her parents. This is the Supergirl origin story told in flashbacks, including how Krypto became her beloved sidekick.

Supergirl review — Krypto is king

A young teenager implores her to help fight a space maniac on a power trip killing spree, but Kara doesn’t get involved until the maniac puts Krypto’s life in danger. At that point, things get real and the raucous adventure starts.

Along the way they come across Lobo, played with glee by Jason Momoa, an enormous, tattooed space biker with a cigar in his mouth operating as an alien mercenary-for-hire with unclear moral allegiances and maximum energy. He is Meatloaf at the height of Bat Out of Hell, if Meatloaf had superpowers. Momoa is clearly having the time of his life, as do we when watching him on screen.

The film does not take itself too seriously, and is all the better for it. One fun surprise is Seth Rogan voicing the tiny companion of a mute bus driver. He’s one of the film’s best laughs. Rogan was allowed to improvise, and his self-deprecating absurdity is quite the coup.

So is the CGI creation of Krypto. The bouncy pup was inspired by producer James Gunn’s real-life rescue dog, Ozu,  and Gunn worked with three visual effects companies to develop and fine-tune Krypto, including a team that created Rocket Raccoon from the Guardians of the Galaxy films.

You gotta love AI, making me into Supergran, and my puppy Rocky into Kryptodoodle.

The result is an adorable dog who moves like a real dog, makes choices like a real dog, and destroys things like a real dog — only with superpowers. Krypto is the heart of the film, and while we mostly see him at the beginning and the end, he makes a strong, sweet impression.

Yes, the film is dark, the pacing uneven, the villain is underbaked, and Kara spends most of her time frustratingly overserved. There is much repetition, and the action scenes are often hard to follow.

But in essence, it’s not a souped up superhero smash fest. It’s the tender and triumphant story of a girl and her dog. To me, that never gets old, always entertains and sometimes inspires. As you can see, it inspired me.

Rating: PG-13

1 Hour 48 Minutes

If this Supergirl review encourages you to fly over to the cineplex and grab a seat, find times and tickets at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Supergirl review admits that the movie is a bit messy and dark, but it’s also exciting, refreshing and moving, mostly thanks to the presence of fluffy sidekick Krypto.