Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey

By: Tyler M.

We all know that the DC Extended Universe has not had the greatest track record when it comes to their big-screen releases. Batman v. Superman. Justice League: Dawn of Justice. Even the film Suicide Squad was fifty-fifty within the fandom and the general viewers. The one shining star from that particular entry in DCEU was Margot Robbie’s portrayal of the clown princess of crime, Harley Quinn. It was highly agreed that though the movie may not have been the best at the box office, Robbie’s take on the classic and well-loved Batman villain was arguably the best part of the movie. So, its no wonder that she was just good enough to spur rumors of her own solo movie and the “somewhat anticipated” Suicide Squad 2 (full title yet to be released.)

I have been a devoted fan of the “jester’s bride” as she is sometimes referred to as. I have loved her since she made her first-ever appearance in Batman: The Animated Series. Whether she’s voiced by her first voice actress Arleen Sorkin or the amazing Terra Strong who’s has built a reputation as her most popular voice actress, or if she’s being portrayed on screen by Robbie, I love Harley Quinn. Always have, always will. So, of course, when I heard that a film featuring her and many other amazing ladies from the DC Universe, I was immediately waiting for the day I was able to watch it. This film is none other than Birds of Prey: The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn as it was originally titled. Now its name has been officially changed to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. Well, this past Sunday I got that chance and let me tell you, I was not disappointed.

The Characters. I have been a huge comic book fan for the majority of my life and have grown up in the many eras of each of these characters and have gotten to know their comic book counterparts very fondly. So take it from me when I say that the way these characters are presented to the audience is fantastic. They managed to make them all feel like their pre-established comic selves for the fans while simultaneously making just as fresh and exciting enough to not confuse or disinterest new fans. Their presentation is great, dialogue and character interaction are superb, and even most of their backstories were spot on and even if they veered from the source material, they did it in a way so that the character wasn't completely ruined.

The Acting. Wow. I mean wow. The casting was phenomenal. First off, we already knew Margot Robbie’s Harley was stunning from Suicide Squad. There’s just something about the edge and extra grit mixed with comedic timing that is amazing to see on the big screen. Jurnee Smollet-Bell as Black Canary was the best, watching her be just as kick-butt as Black Canary should be. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is captivating and mysterious as Huntress, Rosie Perez owns Renee Montoya’s character perfectly, and Ella Jay-Basco is so entertaining as little Cassandra Cain. Not to mention the lead antagonists (It feels weird calling them “villains”) Black Mask and Victor Zsasz excellently portrayed by Ewen McGreggor and Chris Mesina respectively.

The Story. In comparison to its predecessor sister film Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey is leaps and bounds a much better recounting of a fun, explosive, in-your-face comic book action story. The plot was nowhere near as all over the place as Suicide Squads was. The whole set up and the way it’s delivered is way easier to follow and because of this, you don’t lose interest halfway through the film. Which is awesome. And, no terrible beam from the sky to end off the movie.

Overall, I think this movie is a well rounded and fun action-adventure that has notes of comedy, justice, revenge, sisterhood, and all-around butt-kick-ery that is endlessly enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this movie to audiences of all kinds, whether you’re a hardcore fan of DC comics or just looking for a hilariously awesome movie to watch with friends, this is definitely the movie for you. And remember, if you see Harley Quinn eating an egg sandwich, let her eat her egg sandwich.