The month of February is best known for movies that probably are a hit or miss depending on how good they delivered during the end of the winter season. Well, this year started out with the Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of Harley Quinn). Cathy Yen’s Birds of Prey might prove to be Harley Quinn’s redemption from her recent portrayal in the disastrous Suicide Squad. Birds of Prey is directed by Cathy Yen and stars Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez, and Ewan McGregor. The plot centers around Harley Quinn (Robbie), who after splitting up with the Joker, must bring a priceless diamond to Roman Sionis (McGregor) from a thieving little girl, Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco). Her attempt to bring the diamond back involves a lethal assassin, a singer/driver, and a detective as they clash in their attempts to collect the fortune.
Though everyone in this film had stellar character performances, Margot Robbie goes above and beyond. Harley Quinn’s character as a crazed but deadly protagonist never misses a beat as she pulls a combination of comedy and storytelling throughout the film. Even though that Harley Quinn’s character is limited in Suicide Squad, this film took almost four years to perfect the character of Harley Quinn, from everything including the way her dialogue switches between first and third-person perspective to her interactions with every other character on screen.
The most satisfying part of this film is its action choreography. Harley Quinn’s weapon tactics and maneuvers are on par with other action films from this past decade, like the John Wick movies. Each action scene is unique with alternating slow-motion and rapid-fire sequences that leave the audience in amusement and excitement. Each scene features a face-to-face confrontation that reveals a perfectly timed and well-executed action scene filled with dialogue and great cinematography.
However, this film has one major issue that keeps it from being a great DC film: the main antagonist, Roman Sionis (aka Black Mask). His character introduction is too rushed, especially considering that he’s supposed to be the main threat to Harley Quinn. His Black Mask persona doesn’t have any defining personality traits besides getting what he wants and kidnapping the Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco). In contrast, when compared to his other appearances in Batman: Under the Red Hood, Batman: Bad Blood, and Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, the character of Black Mask is a ruthless crime lord in Gotham City whose character is well developed.
Overall, Cathy Yen does a good job of directing Birds of Prey, since DC films are typically poorly received. The directing and writing are on par with films like John Wick and Deadpool. The multiple genres are pulled off surprisingly well and are well balanced. The actors deliver superior performances and all in all, and as a whole, this film definitely tops David Ayer’s Suicide Squad.
3/5 STARS