What could be more fun than a movie with a lead who is funny, insane, but somehow so kind? Birds of Prey (and the Fabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) does just that. The main characters are all messed up, but DC ties this in with one of their franchise’s funniest movies, and it is a must-watch for superhero fans.
Margot Robbie reprises her role as Harley Quinn and as always, she is the perfect match. No one could portray the character of Quinn as well as Robbie does. Robbie makes you love the character while hating her at the same time. Quinn is surely the main draw to this movie for many.
Ella Jay Basco plays Cassandra Cain, who is an important part of the storyline. Cassandra is a kid who has a life that is definitely on the struggle bus. She resorts to stealing to try and cope but crosses the wrong person.
Rosie Perez portrays Gotham City detective Renee Montoya. She may seem bland next to the colorful Quinn, but she is a key part of this film. She is constantly sticking up for herself in an office that doesn’t appreciate her, and Perez conveys many emotions in the scenes she is in.
The other teammates of the Birds of Prey are Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett) and Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). It is amazing to see both comic book characters on the big screen. Both of these characters (portrayed by different actresses) have appeared on the TV series Arrow, but seeing them on the big screen was amazing for any comic book fan.
The villain of this movie is Black Mask who is played by Ewan McGregor. Black Mask is a terrifying villain, who is obsessed with antiques and of course murder. He is the perfect villain for a band of misfits to try and stop.
This movie has a lot of positives going for it, but it is often forgotten about or overlooked. A reason for this is the time frame it was released. The movie was dropped on February 7th, 2020, which of course was when the world shut down. Birds of Prey was unfortunately part of the quarantine movies, causing very few people to go out and see it.
However, with streaming services, this movie should no longer be overlooked. It is a fun watch, with a Rotten Tomatoes review of 78%. This is a great score nonetheless, but for a DC movie, it is a fantastic score.
Birds of Prey is hilarious, which isn’t surprising because Quinn is the main star. But one thing it also does well is the aspect of teamwork. A team less likely to get together ends up getting together. The bonds the characters form over the hour and 50 minutes of this movie are wholesome. Quinn shows us that teamwork is a part of life and inescapable.
Another thing done well is the fight sequences. Birds of Prey is such an action-packed film, from team fights to car chases this movie does everything right.
Car chases are exciting and all, but when you get to the final fight scene you realize the prior car chases were nothing compared to this scene. It takes place in an old amusement park, with the main setting being the clown house. It is a perfect place to hold a fight with Quinn.
Many may have overlooked this movie in the past, but if you are a comic book fan, this movie is a must-watch. It is filled with jokes, teamwork, and of course… egg sandwiches. If you are looking for DC’s diamond in the rough, Birds of Prey is definitely it.
