By Seth Lukas Hynes
Birds of Prey
Starring Margot Robbie, Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Rosie Perez
Rated MA15+
Birds of Prey is a compelling, nuanced and darkly funny film about plucky anti-heroes, and a far superior follow-up to 2016’s Suicide Squad.
Having just broken up with the Joker, bubbly psychopath Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) must fight for her life against Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Robbie immerses herself once again in the role of Harley Quinn, infusing the film with an endearing demented energy. The action sequences are brutal, creative and well-choreographed, and the plot maintains strong forward momentum through its solid internal and external conflicts.
Harley faces immediate danger from volatile crime boss Roman Sionis (Ewan Macgregor), but the main characters also explore deeper themes of self-confidence, proving themselves and standing up to the men exploiting them.
The Birds of the title have strong personalities and fantastic chemistry. The character development is slightly uneven – Harley, Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and especially ambitious cop Renee (Rosie Perez) all receive substantial growth, while vigilante Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) feels detached from the main plot – but the group is electric together in the mayhem-filled climax.
The only major point against Birds of Prey is a disorienting section early in the second act. Harley’s hyperactive narration is generally fun, but this narrative section jumps around in time and setting far too much.
Birds of Prey is a gaudy, ultraviolent celebration of female friendship and independence.
