This week guest reviewer Sheshank Mageshwar takes a look at Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey.
Directed by Cathy Yan, Margot Robbie reprises her role as one fantabulous Harley Quinn and is joined by Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosa María Perez , Ella Jay Basco, and Ewan McGregor. With Harley Quinn’s emancipation from the Joker, her immunity from other criminals is gone. This puts an immediate target on her back, especially from Roman Sionis, AKA the Black Mask. Quinn brings together a reluctant team to take down Sionis to keep herself alive, along with a young girl who gets caught up in the chaos.
Ultimately, this female-led action movie’s focus is purely on action and not really sexuality – a great focus, which is something we have needed in the entertainment industry for a long time. Yan does a great job in choreographing amazing fight scenes that are very entertaining.
However, don’t go in with the expectation of getting a fully developed story or much character development. Robbie really understands how to encapsulate Harley Quinn as a villain and reluctant anti-hero who works best in chaos.
However, the movie’s writing doesn’t really allow the audience to appreciate and feel for the character. The same can be said for the characters played by Smollett-Bell, Winstead, Perez, Basco, and McGregor. Each of them brings a unique flavor to their character but none are able to hold your attention.
If you do want to watch this movie, save it for a night at home when you want to watch some awesome action and one-liners.
Sheshank Mageshwar is a runner, foodie, research associate, and frequent moviegoer. Find more on his new feed at cinemaversus or on his old feed at real_sbwar.