Birds of Prey: One of DC’s Most Fun Movies, So Far

Well, it looks like DC has another hit on their hands. Maybe not so much by the first weekend numbers, but from fan-worthiness, Birds of Prey nails it. While the opening weekend numbers aren’t too impressive, hopefully, poor weather is the reason. A low budget compared to the bigger name DC properties and the blockbusters that is the MCU, WB doesn’t need Birds of Prey to be a billion-dollar movie to succeed.

While opening weekend might not be an indication of how good the movie is. If word of mouth catches on, the latest DC property might have some legs. There are not too many releases right now that haven’t already been in theaters for a couple of weeks, so there’s not too much competition. Both critics and fans so far seem to love the film.

Now on to the movie.

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Birds of Prey, or more appropriately Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, is exactly what you’d expect and even want out of a Harley Quinn movie. Gone are the days of being in the Joker’s shadow. Officially out on her own, what unfolds are fast-paced hijinks and zany shenanigans that usually follow the former sidekick.

But what really stands out in Birds of Prey is the rest of the cast. Sure, we saw just how fun Margot Robbie can be in Suicide Squad but what people should enjoy the lesser-known characters of the DC universe. Between Dinah Lance/Black Canary, played by Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Huntress played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Ella Jay Basco there are some fresh faces in the DC universe. Perfectly balanced by some recognizable faces such as Ewan McGregor, Rosie Perez, and Ali Wong no character seems too out of place.

One thing Birds of Prey pulls off where movies like Charlie’s Angels failed in the past was the female lead cast not seeming like typical heroine cliches. There’s not the cram-it-in-your-face “girl power” moment that seems fake. Each fight scene, each back-and-forth, and each interaction comes off as an authentic smooth transition that doesn’t get bogged down by the usual over-done cliches. What would be the pandering moment in one of the final fight scenes is quickly squashed by the badassery of the fight to follow.

Birds of Prey might not be the best superhero movie to date but it is one of the most fun. Sure, there’s a good deal of comedy in the MCU movies along the way, but BoP isn’t just about humor. It has the energy and excitement you don’t see too often with the serious urgency of the save-the-day hero flicks. Birds of Prey perfectly captures the funhouse atmosphere that usually surrounds Harley Quinn and her antics.

Maybe DC a gamble making it a rated-R movie, but to be fair, Harley Quinn shouldn’t be the character your child idolizes. At no point in her comic career would you confuse her for kid-friendly. If DC’s Birds of Prey doesn’t perform at the box office, Warner Bros shouldn’t give up on a potential future. With the energy and fun along the way, this could be one of those films that do poor in theaters, but has a long run as a fan favorite once it hits on-demand and streaming.