This was like a really great 80s film
I kind of see what people are getting at when they say the film is cheesy but has a lot of heart. Somehow the cheesy moments landed though. Maybe it's being jaded from all of the modern movies that are always being self conscious and quippy, that this film felt like a breath of fresh air.
I can understand the comparisons with Captain Marvel too. You have the same memory loss situation(except this time there is some actual sense of mystery around it), flashbacks to a female mentor giving pep talks, the unlocking of her full potential. That's where the parallels end. Alita was actually allowed to have a male love interest, as well as express emotion and vulnerability and basically being like a teenage girl.
There was a lot of world building done in a short space of time, while leaving enough gaps to make you want to know more. All of the supporting cast was great.
I was really surprised how quickly I forgot that Alita was a CGI character, she was so expressive and the actress playing her really sold it.
It's disheartening that a film like this struggled at the box office due to terrible marketing and might not get a sequel, while an awful nothing film like Captain Marvel makes a billion. I'll be pissed off if I don't get to find out what happens next.