Harley Quinn was basically the star of Suicide Squad and now, she finally has her own movie. Birds of Prey is colorful, eccentric, and the exact level of energy we need as 2020 gets into full swing.
When the movie begins, Harley Quinn is upset about her relationship with Joker ending, but Jared Leto gets no screen time. This isn’t the story about the infamous Joker and his wild girlfriend. This is the story of Harley Quinn and her all-women superhero squad. Harley crashes a truck into the plant where she pledged her love and makes an impulse decision to buy a hyena that she calls Bruce. She falls apart, parties hard, and then establishes a whole new, empowered identity without her other half.
For Harley, recovery comes in the form of establishing a girl gang made of strong, diverse and brilliant women. Black Canary can crack a cocktail glass with her voice and Renee Montoya is hooked on 80s cop shows. The characters are funny, sassy, and the exact women you’d expect to see kicking ass in a fragmented Gotham city.
In terms of the plot, the movie sags a little in the middle and is not always as riveting as it could perhaps be. In a way, the chaotic, muddled storyline is fitting for our broken, chaotic protagonist. The story is told from her perspective, and so anything less than delicious imperfection would feel like a character betrayal.
There were also some moments in the script that were a little problematic. The sexual violence scenes were of poor taste and although they didn’t detract from the message of female empowerment, they were uncomfortable to watch. Considering the film is one of escapism and a champion of feminity, these moments seemed like a poor decision for a female audience.
Ultimately though, what happens in the movie is unimportant. The reason you’ll love it is down to the brilliant characters, fiery jokes aimed at girls, and the saucy outfits and phenomenal soundtrack. This is the kind of movie that will have you feeling like the badass woman you are. And that’s why Harley Quinn rules.
3.5/5
