Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is an immensely chaotic and vibrant action comedy which will have you winch and laugh simultaneously. The fabulous Margot Robbie displays an energy so unique and psychotic that you cannot tell if you love her or are terrified of her. Robbie brings a never before seen vulnerability to the character of Harley Quinn, leaving her role as one that is meant to “serve”, and establishes a much awaited agency to the character. She has finally broken up with “Mister J” and is determined to forge her own path in a Gotham where she is no longer protected by the Clown King of Crime. Robbie exhibits the power of Harley as a woman without boundaries, in an ecstatic series of insane scenes. The choreography in some of these action scenes is astounding, with explosions of colour complimenting Harley’s acrobatic fighting style beautifully. Harley is not to be toyed with in this new ferociously fantastic female action film.
When examining the entire cast the excellent Ewan McGregor portrays a distinctive Black Mask. The character itself has never had a truly interesting personality on paper. He is usually relegated to the bag of side villains within the DC comic universe. However, McGregor’s representation of Black Mask is violent, volatile, and unstable. There is a stark contrast between Harley and Black Mask, with one embodying the film’s delightfully overbearing sense of fun, while the other acts as a counterbalance, a way to explore the dark side of city life. McGregor’s character is a source for the film’s unexpectedly sinister scenes. These sections pollute the tone of the movie, adding blotches of black to a film so colourful and humorous. This blended tone is to the film’s credit as through the addition of these twisted scenes the film lends itself a soberness that acts as a way to break up the constant comedy. The scenes are handled with care and do not offend, but still evoke in you an anxiety that leaves you twitching in your seat.
Cathy Yan, the director of Birds of Prey has done a stellar job in the creation of this truly unique comic-book movie. Yan has made the decision that this is not a children’s movie and uses ominous segments to highlight the dangers surrounding women in a male dominated society. The film deals with issues women face in the workplace, on the street in day to day life, and while enjoying the nightlife of a city. Yan understands the unfairness that women of the modern world are forced to go through and attempts to conquer it through the amazing tenacity and ferocity embodied by the Birds of Prey.
Birds of Prey is an original and incredible all female action movie that highlights the need for more of these type of scripts to be developed in Hollywood. It is so refreshing to see a new take on the super hero “team-up” movie, and it is relieving to see DC improving their comic-book franchise. However, Birds of Prey is not a perfect film. The plot itself is quite barebones, with no amazing storytelling to be found. There are inconsistencies in the action scenes, where some, to put it bluntly, are a lot worse than most of the wonderfully chaotic and funny choreographed scenes that are present for most of the film. The supporting cast struggles to compete with the two acting juggernauts that are Robbie and McGregor, which makes scenes where the two leads are missing feel like an immense dip in quality. Overall, this film is delightful. The comedic spirit of the film is infectious, making it a joy to watch. If you have nothing else going on this weekend and need a break for two hours, go and enjoy this visually vibrant and bombastic piece of film.
Score: 3/5