It’s possible for crazy people to fall out of love, especially for someone like Joker, and now it is time for his ex-girlfriend Harley Quinn to move on from heartbreak.
In a continuation of the DC Universe, “Birds of Prey” is a spin-off to the 2016 film “Suicide Squad” and follows Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie, and the Birds of Prey members who support her in her fight against Black Mask, played by Ewan McGregor.
The film mainly centers around Harley Quinn with little emphasis on the actual Birds of Prey. Harley Quinn’s comrades are a group of vigilantes including Black Canary, a hero with a killer voice, Renee Montoya, a Gotham City police detective out to make a name for herself, and the Huntress, a person with a tragic backstory similar to Bruce Wayne.
“Birds of Prey” is an origin story about how the group came to be and although Black Canary and Renee Montoya were outstanding characters, the group itself does little but show up and fight and serve as comedic relief at times.
The actresses for Black Canary, Huntress, Renee Montoya, and Cassandra Cain have fantastic chemistry while interacting with Harley Quinn, but as a group, they lack the cohesiveness one would expect the Birds of Prey to show.
Not only that, but the film lacks the potential for character development within the group, resulting in one-dimensional characters.
The film does a good job of explaining why the women team up with Harley Quinn, but with little screen time, it is hard as an audience member to develop an emotional attachment to these characters.
Ewan McGregor played Black Mask, also known as Roman Sionis, embracing his dark side while proving to be the total opposite of the Joker in which Black Mask enjoys torturing his victims along with showing no remorse if his goons are killed.
Black Mask is depicted as a cold and narcissistic man-child who throws temper tantrums when he doesn’t get what he wants.
Director Cathy Yan does not hold back on the gore and mutilation, as the film is much more violent than what the trailers show.
There are fight scenes in the middle of the film where Harley Quinn goes on a rampage against Gotham City Police Department in which the cinematography showcases Harley Quinn’s fighting prowess.
The action sequences have some great choreography compared to other DC Comics films like the “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” warehouse scene where Batman viciously beats up thugs holding a secondary character hostage.
“Batman v Superman” might have been brutal but “Birds of Prey” takes everything up a notch.
The action sequences are filmed in wide shots, which director Cathy Yan executed with the help of “John Wick” director Chad Stahelski, showcasing old-school action.
Overall, this film focuses on Harley Quinn while introducing the Birds of Prey.
If you’re a fan of the movies or lore behind DC Comics characters, this movie is definitely worth watching for the action and fun comic book characters, even if they are not characterized or developed very well.
