Review: ‘Birds of Prey’
“Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” might just be the breakup movie of the year. The film, which comes after the 2016 disaster of “Suicide Squad,” proves itself to be a refreshing redemption of Margot Robbie’s portrayal of popular DC villain Harley Quinn and the Valentine’s Day film we might not have realized we needed.
Directed by Cathy Yan and written by Christina Hodson, “Birds of Prey” is a story that opens with a cartoon explanation of heartbreak.
Revolving around Harley Quinn’s (Robbie) journey to find herself after a messy break-up with the Joker, Quinn soon finds out that without Joker’s protection, she has quickly become Gotham’s number one target. While dodging bad guys, she makes some unexpected allies in three women looking to take down a notorious crime lord.
Currently sitting pretty on review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes with a fresh critic score of 80% and an equal audience score, the female-led film is making a name for itself among other DC movies. This score is a positive change for the DC universe, as its predecessor “Suicide Squad” was a hot topic a few years ago for its rotten critic score of 27%.
Christina Hodson’s script is full of humor, self-awareness and a significant amount of girl power. This type of motion picture is almost unheard of for DC — aside from 2019’s comedic breakthrough with “Shazam” — as they are primarily known for their serious, dark takes on superheroes.
One of my favorite things about Hodson’s script is her accurate description of Harley Quinn. While many moviegoers were irritated by the “choppiness” of the film, I liked how Hodson put the audience in Harley Quinn’s mind. She’s incredibly unreliable and spontaneous, which I feel was successfully highlighted in each scene.
What stood out to me the most throughout my viewing experience were the extraordinary performances by Robbie and McGregor. Robbie manages to play the role of Harley in a new and improved way that doesn’t seem overdone or forced.
It is a necessary change from how she was portrayed in the previous film. It goes to show female comic book characters don’t have to be over-sexualized to be appealing to audiences.
As for McGregor, his villainous portrayal of Roman Sionis is one of the best I have ever seen in the franchise — and possibly any comic book adaption ever made. McGregor’s raw confidence when playing Black Mask was a successful depiction of insanity, one many actors can’t pull off.
“Birds of Prey” is at its best when it centers on Harley’s relationship with 13-year-old Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco). The pair have what appears to be a mother-daughter relationship and it gives the audience a glimpse of a more human Harley Quinn.
The parts in the film that consist of Harley and her relationships with other women are what truly make the film good. All four women banding together is empowering and the real-life issues illustrated in the fantasy world are emotional and enthralling.
All-in-all, Yan’s film is a chaotic two hours of pure fun and entertainment. If you like non-stop action, bright colors and female empowerment — this movie is perfect for you.
If you tend to stay away from comic book films like Marvel’s “Deadpool” that include graphic violence and language, you might want to look for something else to see on a $5 movie Tuesday.
“Birds of Prey” is in theaters worldwide now and is rated R for violence and language throughout.
