Birds of Prey

“I’m just a terrible person, I guess.” —Harley Quinn

Today’s quick review: Birds of Prey. After a nasty breakup with the Joker, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) sets out to prove to Gotham’s underworld that she can make it on her own. But her reckless decisions catch up with her when Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor), a sadistic crime boss, strongarms her into recovering a stolen diamond from Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco), a young pickpocket in the custody of the Gotham Police Department.

Birds of Prey is a black comedy and crime drama based on characters from DC Comics. A very loose sequel to Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey picks up with Harley Quinn as she tries to establish a new identity for herself, free from the Joker. Along for the ride are a grab bag of Gotham’s most dangerous women, including Detective Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollet-Bell), and the vigilante known as Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).

Birds of Prey struggles to find the right balance between its sociopathic sense of humor and the borderline heroic story it wants to tell. Harley Quinn gets caught between three competing influences: her nascent attempts at heroism, her legacy as one of Gotham’s most hated criminals, and her obligations as the film’s quirky, devil-may-care narrator. The clash between them leads to a muddy character, in spite of a strong performance from Margot Robbie.

The script has other problems as well. The jokes are inconsistent, with a handful of solid hits mixed in with a fair number of whiffs. The supporting cast gets shortchanged by the film’s focus on Harley, undercutting a promising character in Black Canary and reducing the other characters to one-note gags. In general, the characters don’t seem up to the task of solving their own self-infliced problems, making it hard to invest in their struggles.

Still, Birds of Prey has a few points in its favor. The action isn’t as flashy as other entries in the superhero genre, but the fights are choreographed well and are consistently enjoyable. The performances of Margot Robbie, Ewan McGregor, and Jurnee Smollet-Bell show potential and could form the core of a more solidly constructed movie. And although the film as a whole suffers from tonal issues, its punchy presentation style gives it a distinct identity.

Birds of Prey is a jumbled movie that suffers from weak character work, an unremarkable plot, and humor that misses as often as it hits. There’s enough there for the right fan to latch onto, and its distinctive style and boisterous main character will let some viewers overlook its flaws. But Birds of Prey falls short of the comedic romp it’s trying to be, and those interested in the film may want to approach it with caution.

For another black comedy superhero movie starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, try Suicide Squad. For a violent superhero comedy with a sharper sense of humor and a better lead character, try Deadpool. For a sprawling crime comedy about a stolen diamond, try Snatch. For a stylized action movie with fantasy elements and more likable characters, try Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent action offset by shaky characters and a weak story.