Birds of Prey and the Missed Opportunity Because Harley Quinn had to be the Center of Attention

If you were expecting another home-run for DC with another female superhero movie, you'll have to wait until Wonder Woman 1984. It's a shame because the crime-fighting Birds of Prey team have had better iterations on television, only to be secondary characters in their own movie to make way for a certain popular psycho player to draw in the crowd....

Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

When news of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) no longer being with the Joker becomes public, every thug and assassin make her target number one including crime lord Roman Sionis aka Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). In addition to Harley, Sionus places a bounty on Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) a young pickpocketer who carries a particular item he seeks. The messy mayhem brings in police detective Rene Montoya (Rosie Perez), former club singer Dinah Lance (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) aka Black Canary and crossbow-wielding vigilante Helena Bertinelli (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) aka Huntress out to stop Sionis with Harley joining in the craze.

Rosie Perez as Rene Montoya

I know fans loved Margot Robbie's portrayal as the deranged girlfriend of the Joker but I found the character annoying and hard to sympathize with. Despite the film's efforts on trying to take anti-hero approach, scantily-clad Harley hasn't changed her craving for chaos even after breaking up with the clown prince of crime. 

Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary

As vulgar as Deadpool is, it has some level of heart for its character who is unhappy with his new crazy life and yearns for the happiness back in his normal life; the sequel goes further showing how despite how cool he may look to others he isn't a role model as his own bad advice to a young kid carry consequences that comes back to bite him in the butt. 

Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain 

That's my problem with Birds of Prey. Instead on focusing on flawed characters like Rene, Black Canary and Huntress who want to see justice done and given a chance to redeem themselves, it focuses on the anarchy antics of Harley who takes glee on what she does with no consequences even with the film trying to minimize her carnage count and having her bond with young Cassandra. Last I checked, wasn't Harley a villain to the Birds of Prey in the comics and other adaptations? We can't have her be the bad guy and still be memorable behind bars like in the cartoons so lets give the villain part to some generic kingpin whose also had better iterations on television. 

Ewan McGregor as Black Mask and
Chris Messina as his henchman Victor Zsasz

It doesn't help when the film can't decide to be an all out comedy like Deadpool or dark action flick like Blade as the tone ruins many scenes that are supposed to be either funny or serious. 

Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress.

If it weren't for the Birds of Prey trio, this film would be right right below Suicide Squad but seeing their journey to being crime-fighters elevates the film from being any worse, especially Winstead's portrayal of Huntress who has the most developed and tragic backstory making it awesome on seeing her become a hero. 

(Top Left) Harley Quinn trying to fit in again with society in "Harley's Holiday".
(Top Right) The Birds Prey consisting of Huntress, Catwoman and Black Canary
in Batman The Brave and the Bold.
(Bottom Left) Black Canary and Huntress in Justice League Unlimited.
Bottom Right) Huntress, Batgirl and Black Canary in the live-action Birds of Prey TV show. 

I recommend the episode "Harley's Holiday" from Batman the Animated Series on seeing a more sympathetic version of Harley Quinn, "The Mask of Matches Malone!" from Batman: The Brave and the Bold with Catwoman joining the Birds of Prey on rescuing Batman, and any episode starring Huntress like "Double Date," "Question Authority," "Flashpoint," "Panic in the Sky," and "Grudge Match," in Justice League Unlimited. There was also a short-lived live-action TV show called Birds of Prey that came out on The WB during the the early years of Smallville.  I haven't seen it but from what I hear it can't be as bad as this version. Here's to hoping that James Gunn does a better job on the next Harley Quinn escapade.  

Final Verdict: D+