BIRDS OF PREY: A Campy, Candy-Colored Frenzy

Regardless of how audiences felt about 2016’s Suicide Squad, one thing many viewers agreed on was that the film’s saving grace was Margot Robbie‘s portrayal of Harley Quinn. Fast forward four years and she finally gets the film she deserves in the form of Cathy Yan‘s Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). But don’t let all the positive reviews fool you, Birds of Prey is a haphazard mess. Fortunately, the film is self-aware enough to make it work.

The relationship between Harleen Quinzel and the Joker is a fascinating one, particularly because it’s such an accurate depiction of an abusive relationship. Yet their romance is often misinterpreted outside of the comics. Ergo, screenwriter Christina Hodson’s decision to begin her script after “Mistah J” and Harley’s breakup was a wise one. Harley has always been a compelling, complex character beyond her relationship with the Joker, and Birds of Prey doesn’t merely set out to prove that—it strives to shout it from the rooftops.

From Breakups to Breakfast Sandwiches

Harley Quinn narrates the film, filling us in on her life without the Joker. Initially, she tries to keep the breakup a secret because no one wanted to mess with her when she was “the Joker’s girl.” Once the news gets out, nearly every bad guy in Gotham is gunning for her, especially nightclub owner Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor).

Thanks to Sionis, the lives of a few women intersect. Dinah Lance, better known as Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), works for him. Helena Bertinelli, aka Huntress (Mary Elizabeth-Winstead), is after his right-hand man Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina). Meanwhile, Detective Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) is building a case against Sionis, and Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) is a young pickpocket caught up in the middle of it all.

Every character is well written, and the cast turns in solid performances all around. Robbie’s performance is electrifying, and she infuses the film with a burst of energy. McGregor’s Sionis is over-the-top and cartoonish. Typically this would be a criticism, but McGregor is one of the highlights of the film and heightens the fun. Mary Elizabeth Winstead also delivers a scene-stealing performance thanks to her effortless comedic timing.

In several ways, Birds of Prey succeeds where other female-fronted action films have failed. Its feminist message feels natural as opposed to being spoonfed to viewers, and the characters aren’t one-dimensional. The women support each other in subtle ways, whether it’s admiring someone’s fighting skills or lending someone a hair tie. The characters can wear flamboyant outfits without being subjected to the male gaze. Moreover, there isn’t a single love interest in the movie (Harley’s love of breakfast sandwiches, notwithstanding). But most important of all, the film features a diverse cast where their diversity isn’t forced or turned into a plot point.

Delirious But Delightful

The structure of Birds of Prey is its biggest shortcoming. Exposition takes up more than half of the runtime, and the film meanders a bit. Ordinarily, this would make the film feel bogged down. However, fun characters and full-throttle pacing make it easy to forgive the film’s substantial flaws.

The decision to have Harley narrate the story also helps to gloss over the movie’s imperfections because the erratic, disheveled nature of the film parallels with such a mischievous character. Conversely, her use of flashbacks causes the story to intermittently lose momentum. Luckily these flashbacks don’t detract from the climax, and the movie ends before it has the opportunity to overstay its welcome.

From Doja Cat’s “Boss Bitch” to Megan Thee Stallion and Normani’s “Diamonds,” the soundtrack is lively, fierce, and full of anthems of female empowerment, complementing the movie perfectly. Everything from Matthew Libatique‘s cinematography to Erin Benach‘s costume designs is vibrant and suffuses the film with personality and pizzazz. Fight coordinator Jon Valera and stunt coordinator Jonathan Eusebio also deserve recognition because Birds of Prey is packed with exhilarating action sequences that augment its exuberant tone.

While fans were disappointed when Suicide Squad turned out to be PG-13, Birds of Prey is the first movie in the DC Extended Universe to receive an R rating. With plenty of unapologetic violence, the film certainly earns it. The R-rating is what Margot Robbie envisioned before the project even got off the ground. Thus, her work as a producer warrants just as much celebration as her acting work.

Birds of Prey: Final Thoughts

From the first few seconds, it’s evident that Birds of Prey doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should viewers. It’s silly and scatterbrained, but it’s also wildly enjoyable. When it comes to tone, it’s almost the DCEU’s equivalent to Deadpool. However, Birds of Prey is more fun than funny. This is one of the DCEU’s best films to date, falling just short behind last year’s Shazam!.

Overall, Birds of Prey is a colorful ball of chaos. Is it a cinematic masterpiece? Far from it. But it’s an absolute blast, and that’s all it needs to be.

How’d you feel about Birds of Prey? Let us know in the comments below!

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) was released in the US and the UK on February 7, 2020.