The whole track of the DC films we have gotten since Man of Steel has been a whirlwind of quality. They started off so badly but somehow recovered with titles like Wonder Woman, Shazam!, and Joker all being successful critically and financially. Now they are taking a popular character in Harley Quinn from a bad film in Suicide Squad and giving her a film of her own. Will Birds of Prey continue the recent success for DC, or halt it in its tracks? This train is full speed towards prosperity now. This film is out of control but in the best way possible by further expanding its lead character and introducing us to new ones that make this universe feel more alive than ever before.
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is a bonkers title for a movie, but it fits so well. The story follows Harley Quinn who after breaking things off with the Joker, discovers there are a ton of people out there who want her dead now that she has no protection. To get everyone off her back, she agrees to take back a diamond from a young girl who has swallowed it and bring it to Roman Sionis. Of course, none of this is easy and shenanigans ensue, and Harley must reach deep down to decide just how bad of a person she wants to become. The plot is not what is important with this film, it’s the energy. This film is as if a unicorn was given a palette of cocaine and jumped into a pile of glitter and I loved every second of it. Sure, it has some story issues and the way it is told is unconventional, but it is not the point. The frantic energy this film has is engaging and contagious and it sucks you in from moment one and never lets you go.
Make no mistake about it, Birds of Prey is the Harley Quinn show through and through and it works due to Margot Robbie and Cathy Yan. Robbie portrayed this character four years ago in Suicide Squad and while she was the best part, you felt like we were just getting started with her. In this film, we see her at maximum potential and the result is glorious. Director Cathy Yan understood exactly how to utilize this character who could easily be annoying but isn’t because of what she chooses to highlight about her. She is a terrible individual who has wronged many people, but second chances are something we all deserve, and Harley somehow earnestly stumbles into them. The way Yan directs action should also be applauded. The scenes where people take a beating are the best parts of the film because of how well they are shot. I have never seen a bat be used as a weapon quite like we do in this film and that goes for most weapons of choice. Yan just got so creative with this project and decided to take full advantage of her opportunity.
This entire cast of Birds of Prey is phenomenal, but we need to start recognizing something. Margot Robbie is quickly becoming the must-see actress working today and is my personal favorite. With every project she latches onto, she takes full advantage and makes it the best it can be. It is absolutely true of this film where she is the one who led the search to find the right script and director. There were four Harley Quinn movies in development at one point and this is the one that broke through because of Robbie’s decision. The love and passion she has for the character are apparent and she embodies the role so perfectly that no other person could ever play this character in my eyes. The other standout of this film is Ewan McGregor as Black Mask. The name sounds like another boring villain, but he is far from that. McGregor turns this character into a charismatic, charming madman who makes rash decisions but is so captivating. He has all the funny lines in the film and his charm is infectious to the point you do not know who to root for at certain moments. His delivery of lines is so weird that it works, and I love what he brought. The rest of the cast is great, but it is really about the two mentioned above while the others are relegated to the side until the third act.
Birds of Prey quickly became one of my favorite DC movies as the film went along and I cannot wait to see it again. Are there issues with the story and do the new characters not get enough to do? Yes, but it doesn’t bother me because the film was having so much fun and was so inviting to the audience to join them that I had to forgive it. Margot Robbie has made this side character one of the biggest in the genre in two short films and I cannot wait to see what they do with this franchise next.
The Verdict