The superhero or comic book genre has largely been dominated by men. Precious few females are portrayed in this world. Slowly but surely, due to the almighty box office success, female superheroes and villains are taking their place in this world.
Harley Quinn is one of the characters which has taken advantage of the door cracking open. On film she made her debut in Suicide Squad, a film which was panned by critics but Harley Quinn costumes became all the rage. She made her mark. It did not hurt that she was portrayed by the beautiful and talented Margot Robbie. Robbie has been something of an “It” girl of late with loads of popular films and even Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG nominations.
While this film is not up to Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel standards, it is still a watchable film.
After Joker and Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie) breakup, she is looking for something else to feel a part of. Due to a twist of fate, she comes in contact with superheroes Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Renee Montoya (played by Rosie Perez) and Black Canary (played by Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and they begin to search for a missing young girl named Cass (played by Ella Jay Basco). Cass has been taken by evil crime lord Roman Siosis (played by Ewan McGregor) and sidekick, Zsasz (played by Chris Messina).
As you might have expected based on Harley’s turn in Suicide Squad, the film featuring her is quirky and colourful. She is not your typical comic book character, so deserves to be portrayed as a stand out on film. Director Cathy Yan, director of Dead Pigs, gives her that. Everything is chaotic from the story to the action sequences. Instead of that throwing things off, it is fitting for a movies featuring Harley Quinn.
On the downside the story is weak. Precious little arc for us to be invested in. Plus what happens is all rather predictable. Robbie is great as Harley Quinn but the film is not up to her standards. What could have helped her own was a formidable foe. While McGregor is great at the one liners and narcissistic facets of his character there is not much there. No back story. No character development, so he never seems like much opposition.
Because it is a little all over the place it is a film which really required a steady vision and hand behind the camera. I think Yan was a little too inexperienced for a film like this. Needed someone who could make up for the flaws in the script.
Special Features:
-Digital Copy
- Birds Eye View Mode
- Birds of Prey: Birds of a Feather
- Grime and Crime
- Wild Nerds
- Romanesque
- Sanity is Sooo Last Season
- A Love/Skate Relationship
- Gag Reel
