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Harley Quinn flies away in 'Birds of Prey'
Birds of Prey sets a benchmark for empowering hero stories.
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A still from 'Birds of Prey'. (Courtesy of/Warner Bros Pictures)
W
hen a movie starts with a break up, you’d probably expect it to be a romantic comedy, but this is not the case with Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey. As the Suicide Squad’s sequel sees Margot Robbie’s return as Harley Quinn, viewers can anticipate the film to be far more entertaining than its predecessor.
Viewers can also expect to see appearances from DC’s characters: The Huntress/Helena Bertinelli (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black Canary/Dinah Lance (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and the Black Mask/Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor).
Birds of Prey has DC shift its focus from typical male leads and their mild female counterparts to replacing it with an unlikely group of strong females. While Quinn is still more unhinged than ever, she’s empowered and breaks away from the side-kick role she played in Suicide Squad.
Once known solely for her love affair with the Joker, Quinn steals the spotlight and proves to be an entertaining and intriguing lead. Narrated in a way only Quinn’s slightly brazen New York accent could, the story follows her rise to independence after her split from Gotham’s most infamous madman.
Her diplomatic immunity perishes and everyone in Gotham appears to be after her. Quinn finds herself being rescued from two men by burlesque waitress Dinah Lance. This is the first we get to see the real Black Canary. Not only can she sing and put up a fight, she also looks out for other women.
As Quinn continues to fend off her enemies, the anti-hero finds herself at the mercy of the city’s most powerful villain, the Black Mask or Roman Sionis.
Read also: Margot Robbie hints at more female action movies at 'Birds of Prey' premiere
Much like the comic book version, Black Mask loves to humiliate people. This illustrates the man’s cruel tendency and the theme of abuse, which Yan noticeably presents throughout the film in a way that is thought-provoking yet doesn’t cloud the storyline.
Meanwhile, The Huntress, who is brave yet slightly awkward, is making her way through Gotham seeking to avenge her family’s assassination over a diamond. Quinn also meets a juvenile pickpocket and orphan, Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) and finds herself having to play babysitter. Through all the craziness of robbing supermarkets and throwing bombs from cars, the pair find themselves enjoying each other’s company.
However, when the life of the young girl is put in danger, an unlikely sisterhood is formed. Quinn, Renee Montoya, the Black Canary and the Huntress band together to fight the sadistic mastermind in a way only a group of badass women could.
In all the madness and mayhem of the film, viewers can expect to see entertaining and original fight scenes. Yan incorporates just the right amount of humor, from inappropriate T-shirt slogans to pet hyenas.
Something which also stands out is how the female characters are modern, unabashedly flawed and they refuse to hide behind the perfect female hero stereotype. For a change, DC has given us female leads with personalities and are relatable, hopefully paving the way for hero stories to come.
Birds of Prey is a wildly entertaining film that exceeds expectations. It depicts a rise to independence after a breakup while showing the importance of a sisterhood. While Suicide Squad wasn’t a huge win for DC, Birds of Prey sets a benchmark for empowering hero stories. (wng)
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Madison Bogisch traveled to Indonesia under a program with ACICIS Study Indonesia.
