The cinematic introduction of Harley Quinn in the 2016 disaster of a film Suicide Squad didn't give me a whole lot of hope for the future of this character in future DC films.
Her aesthetic was one that was often copied, I mean who didn't see at least a dozen "Daddy's Little Monster" shirts at any given comic convention after the first trailer was revealed? I'm not really complaining, but the movie itself was trash. What started as a bunch of great introductory scenes ended up feeling and looking like a video game where you never took control. That would be fine if it weren't for the fact the average video game has a better story nowadays and I'm actually looking forward to the Suicide Squad video game more so than I was the original movie.
But I digress.
Birds starts out strong in a lot of respects, but I was planning on writing it entirely off after the scatter brained approach it took to its narrative. Once the movie starts feeling like an actual film as opposed to a sizzle reel for some student filmmaker hoping to get a notice from Hollywood.
It was purposely messing with us in a way to convey Harley's scattered brain and I didn't hate it now that I understood it. That doesn't mean I was going to give it a pass.
I find it a shame that they decided to go with the non-linear first act since the rest of it played out akin to a John Wick film. The entire second and third acts consisted of incredibly inventive, colorful, and fun action sequences that kept me engaged the entire time.
The performances were really good too. Margot Robbie is the absolute perfect Harley and matches her manic energy and tragic likability.
Jurnee Smollett as the Black Canary was a badass who's humanity comes through in her facial performance.
Mary Elizabeth Windtead's Huntress was the adorkable assassin.
Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya and Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain were really the weak links of the core woman cast. They were good in the roles, but they just seemed lifeless next to the other actors on screen.
Ewan McGregor and Chris Messina were note perfect in the villain roles and I loved every moment of the screen time that they had.
All said, Birds of Prey was a fun watch once I got past the first third of the movie. I think that if it were more traditionally structured, I would have liked it more and the stakes never felt truly dire by the end of the movie but I don't hate this movie like I did Suicide Squad.
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