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Film

Birds Of Prey – Review

When Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and The Joker breaks up, Harley Quinn decides that she shall show Gotham that she does not need the clown prince of crime to be a feared villain. However, her plans get put on hold when she meets a kid named Casandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco). Let’s talk about Birds of Prey.

If you were hoping for an insane trip with colorful characters, humor, and well-executed action scenes, then I’m happy to report that Birds Of Prey deliver on every front. You know that you are in for a wild ride when Harley Quinn starts talking to the viewers like Ryan ReynoldsDeadpool.

If there is something that this movie should get full praise for is the casting choices. Each actor plays their respective role as if they were born to play them. My favorite performances, where Margot Robbie as the titular character, going all out as the crazy psychiatrist, and Ewan “Obi-Wan” McGregor. He hams it up in every scene he’s in as the villain Romain Sionis, aka Black Mask.

What makes the movie even better for me are the similarities to the anime Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo. Outside of the on top of the wall insanity, lies a relevant social commentary. Granted, Birds of Prey can be a bit, to on the nose at times which made me roll my eyes. Still, I’m glad they included the general message.

With all that said, the movie also contains a couple of flaws. The first, and most disappointing one of them all, is the title itself. The Birds of Prey are not the focus. The usage of Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is laughable. They’re not the main characters but supporting roles. Continuing with the Deadpool comparisons, think more Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and not as actual “teammates.”

There is also the choice of an R-rating. I know what raw comments that they want to point out with today’s society, but you can still have the same commentary with a hard PG-13. It would have been good to make it accessible for the younger audience, who the message is equally essential too. What’s ironic is that they would only need to do some minor tweaks, and you would be given the same movie, but with a lower age rating.

The final issue involves the character of Cassandra Cain. Ella Jay Basco does a great job as the character, but the role she plays is easily the most uninteresting of them all.

As someone that thought the trailers were hot garbage, Birds Of Prey: and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn was certainly a pleasant surprise. It is a fun but flawed action-comedy, but the cast elevates it to a crazy fun time.

Isak Wolff
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Co-host of the Amateur Otaku Podcast. A writer of many things. Loves everything nerdy from anime/manga to comics and video games. Fire Emblem is the greatest of all time.