Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) was the ultimate, powerful, female-led film that I expected it was going to be.
The transformation of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) from the Joker’s side-piece to her own character was refreshing, necessary, and beautiful to watch. Of course, the plot begins with a drunkenly depressed Quinn lamenting about her past love and making a fool of herself in public. But she quickly learns that, without the protection of the Joker, A LOT of people are out to get her for past grievances. The only solution is to pull herself together, and as she does so she assembles a motley group of badass women.
We are introduced to the Huntress, portrayed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, a Gotham native who has returned from training as an assassin in Italy to get revenge on the mob leaders who murdered her family (dark, I know). We meet Renee Montoya (played by Rosie Perez), a depressed detective of the Gotham City Police Department who herself is alienated from her coworkers because she is building a case around an untouchable villain and billionaire, Roman Sionis/Black Mask (played by Ewan McGregor). Also part of Quinn’s new girl squad is Dinah Lace/Black Canary (Jurnee Smollet-Bell), a beautiful social recluse who is a singer at Sionis’ club, where she meets Quinn.
What I love about the team that’s been formed is that none of the women have ever been part of a group before, or have known what’s like to be part of something as equals. The result is messy and chaotic, but funny and sometimes even heartwarming. They all bring their emotional baggage to the squad, their damages and all, yet they are accepted. They find a home in one another.
I would say the movie takes the first hour trying to find its voice as it attempts to stabilize itself as a Gotham-centered film sans Joker and Batman. But once it does, it is so worth it; women, especially women who have BEEN THROUGH IT, deserve to see a movie like this. Of course, the DC Universe has already created a strong, confident lead in Wonder Woman. But she worked alone, was already strong (as a literal warrior princess from the island of the Amazons), and had a love interest throughout the film (albeit it didn’t turn out very well).
Quinn’s own transformation from Suicide Squad to Birds of Prey is especially heartening to watch. Even through her costuming, hair, and makeup, we can see that she is finally serving herself, instead of the Joker. In the beginning, she is a MESS in the scene at Sionis’ club, where she initially meets Lace, and rightfully so! She just broke up with the man she literally threw herself in acid for, so she has a right to look unwell. I admire the director for understanding that crucial detail of a hurting woman. (It’s almost as if hiring a woman director to tell a struggling woman’s story works! Who would have thought?!)
Birds of Prey, although a little too heavy on the musical fight numbers and cheesy one-liners, is a brilliant narration of what can happen after a woman’s Happily Ever After ends. How daring women build themselves up, band together, and have each other’s backs. It is bold, fierce, and something every young girl needs to see.