![]() Where it at least differs from “Suicide Squad” despite many of the surface similarities of style, violence, and flippancy, is “Birds Of Prey” is more mischievous and never takes itself too seriously. Shaped a lot like an irreverent, music video and the with brassy boss bitch energy, the stylistically bombastic movie-which even features a brief musical sequence, because f*ck it, might as well throw the whole kitchen sink in there-“Birds Of Prey” is often hyper-violent, sadistic, and bordering on something that feels like Tarantino-lite without enough of the chops to back it up. Reminiscent of “ Deadpool“-much of the same wisecracking quips, smarmy attitude, and brutal AF hard-R violence-your tolerance for its relentless sass and vicious mien will vary. Whether it’s a relentless Gotham City Police Detective ( Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya), a vengeful assassin ( Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress), or a singer who’s found herself unwittingly working for the bad guys ( Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary), all roads lead to the diamond, and eventually, protecting the teenage Cain from the vainglorious psychopath on her trail. READ MORE: 52 Films Directed By Women To Watch In 2020 ![]() The Joker and Harley Quinn have broken up which means it is open season on the once-untouchable Maid of Mischief who made a lot of enemies in her day.Īside from the “John Wick 3”-like story of everyone all of a sudden free to kill Harley Quinn, the thin plot-such as there is one to discern with all the interruptus rewinds, origin story flashback tangents, asides and live remixing of the story- is essentially about recovering a much-sought-after diamond that a young thief possesses (Cassandra Cain played by Ella Jay Basco) and the evil, sadistic crime lord that covets it ( Ewan McGregor as Black Mask). READ MORE: 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2020ĭriven by Harley Quinn’s ( Margot Robbie), ADD-ish, expository, over-explainy, fourth wall-commenting-on-the-action, often interrupting, annoying narration, ‘Birds Of Prey’-obviously, in lieu of including Jared Leto as the Joker, opens with a slightly janky animated sequence basically retelling the entire Harley Quinn origin story, recalling the events of “Suicide Squad” and ending on a note of heartache. Or rather, your never made to feel very invested in the stories, or the characters (for the most part)-but you’re on this crazy, kaleidoscopic carnival ride and its ridiculous, over-the-top pageantry begins to entertain and win you over. As it roller skates up the ramp to its bonkers climax, wall-to-wall soundtracked by a brassy bitch-pitched beat, “Birds Of Prey” starts to find a danceable rhythm. ![]() Somewhere along the way, it’s insane bananas energy-fairly tiresome and grating at first, starts to work. Heavily indebted to an adrenalized version of the mix and match, collage-y time structure of “ Pulp Fiction”-which the movie feels like it leans on whenever possible-borrowing the smash-and-grab titles sequence ideas and incessant needle drops from “ Suicide Squad,” while throwing in a little Joel Schumacher-era “ Batman & Robin” absurdity and campy flair in for good measure, “Birds Of Prey” is hyper affected, and a little more than obnoxious in its first half. But at the very least, there’s never a dull moment in the colorful chaos. ![]() A deliriously batshit mess of pop-art spectacle-spray paint, glitter, lipstick, neon, and blood, that’s not without some value- including a funhouse mirror third act of cartoonish, murderous pandemonium that’s quite entertaining if you surrender to the mayhem, Warner Bros.’ cheeky, unapologetically brassy “ Birds Of Prey” is super overwrought and sometimes exasperating. ![]()
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