I saw Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn on the second day it was in theaters because a snowstorm delayed me from seeing it on opening night. It has taken me this long to get my thoughts in order and form coherent words about this movie and my love of one Harley Quinn.
To start, a brief history lesson on the Birds of Prey and Harley Quinn. Hailing from the DC Universe, the Birds of Prey is a femme force of vigilantes that originated in Gotham City later operating in Metropolis and then relocating again.
The core of the team is Black Canary and the Oracle/Barbara Gordon, who was Batgirl, with other heroines joining in sporadically. Some of the BoP members were Huntress, Lady Blackhawk, Catwoman, Cassandra Cain, Dove, Gypsy, Hawk, Hawkgirl, Jade Canary, Katana, Poison Ivy, Nightwing, and more. Hawk was also the first male member.
Harley Quinn started as Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, a psychologist that was working at Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum. That is where she first met the Joker and fell for him. He was a patient of hers. In the comics, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley team up and become the Gotham City Sirens. Harley Quinn was only supposed to be a brief character in the comics but ended up being a sidekick to the Joker, and later, a love interest. She then gets her own backstory and adventures, including being a member of the Suicide Squad.
After anxiously waiting for what feels like years, we got a semi-solo Harley Quinn movie. When the title was released, I had my doubts about how Harley would fit in the Birds of Prey world, which is already so well known. But what we got was a whole new Birds of Prey team. Each character played a part in the formation of this new squad and each other’s character developments. This was a tremendous all-female lead cast kicking ass and making a name for themselves in Gotham.
Time for the Introductions
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) is the one narrating and telling the story during the movie. She has broken up or been dumped by Mr. J—it was sort of mutual—and finds herself on her own for the first time in a long time.
Renee Montoya
Do you know what a harlequin is? A harlequin’s role is to serve. It’s nothing without a master. No one gives two shits who we are beyond that.
That is how we are introduced to Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), who is still a detective after her male counterpart took all the credit and was promoted to Captain. It was also revealed by an ex-girlfriend, Ellen (Ali Wong), that she is a bit of an alcoholic. Montoya has a connection to Dinah Lance (Jurnee Smollett-Bell). She knew and worked with her mother, presumably Dinah Drake.
Dinah Lance
Dinah Lance is working with Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor) as a singer in his night club, where he calls her his little bird, before she embraces her power and family legacy and becomes the Black Canary. (And yes, that really is Jurnee Smollett-Bell singing.)
Roman Sionis & Victor Zsasz
Roman is a narcissist and quite eccentric. His masochistic right-hand man (who I think has an infatuation with him) is Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina). Zsasz was also part of the crew that killed the Bertinelli family, leaving only Helena Bertinelli (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) alive.
Helena Bertinelli
Helena Bertinelli trained until she was ready to take revenge on those who murdered her family, becoming The Huntress. (Please do not call her the Crossbow Killer as she has some anger issues.)
Cassandra Cain
Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) completes the six degrees of separation. She lives in the same building as Dinah and is known by Montoya since she is a skilled pickpocket, and is the one that stole the diamond Sionis wants.
Thoughts
While I did love this movie, the one thing I didn’t like—minus a few continuity errors—was Roman Sionis. I liked Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of him, but there was too much of him to the point that I became annoyed with his eccentricity.
Of course, Harley was terrific. I am beginning to believe that she would bleed glitter with all that was used. The breakup montage after blowing up Ace Chemicals as a form of closure and a new start was an excellent touch. She was able to embrace her vulnerable and broken side before becoming independent and strong. The nod to her character in the comics who had two hyenas, with her having one in the movie named Bruce, was great. Also, can we mention how nice it was to see Harley show the passion for a breakfast sandwich that it so rightly deserves? It is the perfect hangover and breakfast food that tastes like happiness.
The awkwardness of the Huntress was funny, not to mention how much Mary Elizabeth Winstead looks like the comic book character.
While in the comics, Cassandra Cain was not overly vocal, it was nice to see that they let her have a voice in the movie. I enjoyed the friendship that formed between Cain and Quinn and would love to see more of that.
But the main thing that I enjoyed about this movie was the stunt work. The fight scene in the funhouse was extraordinary. It was cool to see the different fighting techniques of the characters. Harley was acrobatic, Montoya was hand to hand, Huntress was martial arts and weaponry, and Black Canary reminded me of martial arts style as well. It was an enjoyable movie with such a killer female-led soundtrack that I am not even able to choose a favorite song.
I am looking forward to watching it over and over. If you have not seen it yet, go now. Seriously, go!
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