Birds of Prey – The UnPopular Opinion

Last Updated on August 11, 2021

THE UNPOPULAR OPINION is an ongoing column featuring different takes on films that either the writer HATED, but that the majority of film fans LOVED, or that the writer LOVED, but that most others LOATHED. We’re hoping this column will promote constructive and geek fueled discussion. Enjoy!

****SOME SPOILERS ENSUE****

The DCEU is a curious undertaking. Originally built to expand on the tone and style of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy via Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and subsequent films, it has since differentiated from trying to mimic the success of Marvel Studios’ cinematic universe by allowing filmmakers to visualize a wide range of genres and themes. Taking a cue from David Ayer’s Suicide Squad and building around the success of Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn, Birds of Prey was meant to be a female-centric, R-rated comic book movie, unlike anything we had seen before. But, despite generally positive reviews, Birds of Prey tanked at the pre-pandemic box office. Whether it be the more comedic tone, the non-superhero look at DC Comics lore or the female-led cast of characters, Birds of Prey had to be remarketed as a Harley Quinn solo film when it truly is a team movie featuring the titular squad of heroines. While a vocal minority online decried the film, I feel that it is easily the best DCEU film released to date.

Birds of Prey first hit everyone’s radar when rumors of a Gotham City Sirens film began making the rounds. With Margot Robbie stealing the show as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, her solo endeavor blended with that female-led team film to become Cathy Yan’s 2020 movie. As much as Joker was a risk for Warner Bros in pursuing a mature R-rated comic book movie, Birds of Prey was even more of a risk. By following the raunchy humor that made Deadpool such a hit, Birds of Prey was also a movie sans any marquee superheroes. Unlike the HBO Max animated series Harley Quinn, which features Joker, Batman, Robin, and tons of other top tier DC characters, Birds of Prey has some passing references to recognizable characters and instead focuses on Huntress, Black Canary, Renee Montoya, Black Mask, Victor Zsaz and Cassandra Cain. Those familiar with DC comics or even the various Arrowverse TV shows may recognize these names, but big-screen audiences likely had not.

The best thing about Birds of Prey is that these characters are not as well known as the core Justice League team. They also all have unique origin stories that pull from comic book lore but ultimately are rooted in nothing we have seen before. Cassandra Cain, best known as one of many Batgirls, is here played by Ella Jay Basco as an orphaned pickpocket who befriends Harley. Renee Montoya, played perfectly by Rosie Perez, is the closest to her comic book counterpart but gets to shine in a way she rarely has on-screen before. Jurnee Smollett is wonderful as Dinah Lance while Mary Elizabeth Winstead is a grittier and more realistic take on Helena Bertinelli/Huntress. I use the phrase realistic loosely as this movie plays fast and loose with what one would consider reality but does so in the service of making a fun movie.

Everything about this film upends what the DCEU had done before it. Gotham City is bright and seen from a rare sunlit vantage, The on-screen graphics mimic Suicide Squad but employ more animation and vulgar humor and the violence is far more bloody and over the top than anything even in the Snyder Cut of Justice League. This is a movie that turns violence into humor while also balancing on the precipice between turning villains into anti-heroes or even downright heroes. Where Todd Phillips’ Joker made people root for the bad guy, Harley Quinn is played here firmly as a villain but one who has a moral compass. While that morality is not ironclad, it is because of Margot Robbie’s full investment in playing her role as more than just Joker’s Girlfriend that we care about the stakes in the story. In Birds of Prey, since all of the characters are morally ambiguous, some look like heroes compared to one another despite the fact they are all still villains.

Even within a cast of villains, the true antagonists shine here. Ewan McGregor, improving every project he is involved with, plays Roman Sionis with such abandon that he is more interesting than the black mask he dons in the film. McGregor plays Sionis very similarly to his recent role in Netflix’s Halston: he is a vain and rich man who wants to be recognized and loved while pursuing power. A complete narcissist, McGregor chews every scene he is in. Joined by Chris Messina as a slimy and dastardly Victor Zsasz, the pair are some of the better villains in DCEU history. Neither makes it out of the film alive, but they exit the movie with one hell of a flourish. While not superbeings like Darkseid, Ares, or Doomsday, Birds of Prey managed to give us two human villains who are every bit as dangerous as galactic or omnipotent threats.

There is also a heart to this story. While everything is over the top and batshit crazy, Birds of Prey still allows you to care for each individual origin story and subplot. From minor characters and acquaintances, every scene in this movie feels genuine. Often, studio movies feel like too many executives had input, a move that hurt the DCEU efforts from Zack Snyder, David Ayer, and even Patty Jenkins. Birds of Prey is an excellent example of the original and refreshing work that is often kept out of mainstream tentpoles. The failure of this movie at the box office is less a creative failure as much as poor timing and bad marketing.

With a soundtrack of catchy covers and new songs from multiple genres and a propulsive score by Daniel Pemberton, Birds of Prey channels the spirit of what James Gunn did with Guardians of the Galaxy. it is fitting that Gunn and Robbie were reunited on this summer’s Suicide Squad as the anarchic tone of this movie fits his sensibility. In only her second feature film, director Cathy Yan takes the bonkers and insane mind of Harley Quinn and delivered what Todd Phillips never could: a worthy Joker movie. It is just amazing that she managed to do it without the Joker himself. Birds of Prey is more than a DC movie or even a comic book film, it is what Marvel Studios has been doing for a decade: it is a twist on what we have come to expect while still maintaining the tried and true formula of why we love superheroes.

But hey, that’s just my UnPopular Opinion. Tell us your take on Birds of Prey in the comments below.

Oh, and if you have any suggestions for The UnPopular Opinion I’m always happy to hear them. You can send along an email to [email protected] or spell it out in the comments below. Provide me with as many movie suggestions as you like, with any reasoning you’d care to share, and if I agree then you may one day see it featured in this very column!