When Harley Quinn breaks up with the Joker, she has to find her own way in the world.
Review 2020 by Flytrap
Birds Of Prey
Written by: Christina Hodson
Directed by: Cathy Yan
Starring: Margot Robbie, Ewan McGregor, Chris Messina, Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Ella Jay Basco, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Rated R
Running time: 109 Mins
She tries a variety of things, including roller derby, adopting a hyena and blowing up a chemical plant. Eventually, she is hired by a psychotic crime lord (eviliciously played by Ewan McGregor) to hunt down a child who has stolen a fabulous diamond. Along the way, she meets several other damsels guerrières with whom she fights and/or befriends.
This film never quite gelled for me. The plot, as it is, is all over the place, with multiple flashbacks (to me, the bane of narrative flow). The fight sequences just go on and on and get tiresome after a bit; this is a problem with a lot of movies lately. And I think there was too much Harley and not enough of the others.
However, there are some gems in this. When Harley gets acrobatic, especially with the baseball bat, the stunts are fantastic. And Ella Jay Basco rocks it as a pickpocket with panache. It’s beautifully shot, with vivid colors and a rockin’ soundtrack.
I’ll give this a mild recommendation, probably best as a matinee. There are no are post-credit scenes, just a voice-over at the very end that wasn’t worth the bladder strain.
(Side note: I highly recommend the TV show, Harley Quinn. It is thoroughly enjoyable.}
Flytrap rating: 6.5/10
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