Birds of Prey: and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is a movie that definitely proves two things: First, that DC and Warner Brothers are making progress in making better movies with their superhero comic book properties, and second, that despite what Hollywood would prefer to believe, it is completely possible to make a successful and entertaining blockbuster with an all-women cast. This movie is the result of learning from the mistakes made in the past and building up to become something better. Even better, it does so in a way that still retains its own personal identity. Despite what some have feared, DC is not just trying to completely emulate Marvel Studios formula, although there is no denying that they are taking some notes here and there. Rather, DC is maintaining its own tone and presentation but embracing the inherent goofiness of its source material and having fun with it all. Which, in my opinion, is what they should have been doing all along.
Long story short, when Marvel Studios began the superhero movie craze, the folks over at Warner Brothers and DC Comics tried to catch up. They did so under the assumption that by being dark, gritty, grim, and disturbing, they would stand out more and be taken more seriously and would have just as much if not more success. Needless to say, this plan of attack backfired on them and hard. After just a few movies (most notably Suicide Squad from which Harley Quinn spawned in the movies) no one had any faith in Warner Brothers or DC Comics' ability to make good quality films with their comic book properties. It has only been in recent years that they finally started to wake up and get a better idea of what makes these movies so enjoyable. Adding the Cherry on top is that this new film takes one of the two only good aspects of Suicide Squad (the second good part being Will Smith) and reshapes it into a loveable bad-ass protagonist leading the way into a better future for Warner Brothers and DC.
Taking place sometime after the events of Suicide Squad (click here if you need a refresher) the story follows Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), the former puppet of the notorious criminal mastermind known as The Joker. Harley has had enough of Mr. J's abuse and decides to break off their "relationship". Unfortunately, their break up has now put Harley Quinn in the crosshairs of damn near every other crime boss in all of Gotham, especially one Roman Sionis a.k.a. Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), who decides to strike a deal with Harley. If she can recover a special Diamond that he happens to be after, he will use his influence to protect Harley and get everyone off her back. Now, Harley Quinn must fight for her freedom, make some new friends, and determine just what kind of woman she is going to be from here on out.
For those of you who have followed this beloved character in the comics, I can assure you that Margot Robbie, in addition to being just a great actor, completely nails the character in every possible way. Also, the script succeeds in fleshing out every detail doing Harley Quinn justice. Her character is about overcoming trauma, abusive relationships, and embracing a healthy level of insanity. She is one of the few fictional characters who can get away with being bad because she's so good.
Setting aside comic book accuracies, the movie as a whole is just delightfully crazy. Much like the movies Deadpool and Hobbs & Shaw, there is a great deal of silliness to the whole proceedings that is completely and unquestionably embraced by everyone involved. Instead of falling into the overdone aggressively dark and gritty take on these characters, the movie just plays through the story like it's on a sugar high. Sure, it still plays with some of the darker aspects of the story and characters, some of which I personally could have done without, but it just shows enough of it to better compliment the rest of the film's lovely insanity.
The action scenes are some of the best I have ever seen in a DC comic book movie. Choreographed by the guys who did the John Wick films, every action scene is wonderfully crafted, comprehensive, and adds a level of amazement that must be seen to be believed. There is one action scene in particular which, without spoiling too much, involves Harley Quinn making her way through a Police Station using a non-lethal modified Grenade Launcher. To say any more would diminish the scenes awesomeness, but I assure you, it is one of the best parts of the whole film, and instantly became my favorite scene in the entire movie.
The cast is tremendous from top to bottom. Margot Robbie, needless to say, carries the whole film on her shoulders with conviction and enthusiasm. Ewan McGregor is effectively terrifying as the sadistic crime boss and everyone else in the entire cast to a memorable job with their roles. My one nitpick is that one of my favorite actors who is in this film, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, has an awesome role, but does not have a great deal of screentime. Fortunately, the characters that we do spend the most time with are still incredibly entertaining.
Birds of Prey: and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is an absolute blast. While the tone and some of the violence might turn some viewers away for understandable reasons, the movie does have the good sense to relegate the more disturbing parts to bite-sized sections of the story in order to spend more time on the really fun stuff. It is the equivalent of a triple-decker Chocolate Cake with Rainbow sprinkles and tri-colored frosting: it may not be healthy for you, but it's so god damn delicious that you can't help but savor every ounce of sinful deliciousness. If you're looking for a crazy distraction from the present dreary world, this is the movie for you. If you're a big fan of DC comics, especially Harley Quinn, then you owe it to yourself to see this movie, because I can assure you, there is nothing else like it.
Is this movie worth seeing?
Yes.
Is it worth seeing in Theaters?
Yes.
Why?
It's the cinematic equivalent of a Unicorn made of Cotton Candy: Rare, unbelievable, and sweet all the way through. Though it may not be for everyone, if you're in the right mood, it will make you feel fantabulous.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment