Harley Quinn is back, as played by Margot Robbie, in anarchic DC comic book movie Birds of Prey. The bubblegum-chewing, mallet-wielding antihero, whom we first met in 2016's Suicide Squad, is now freed from her abusive relationship with the Joker, and set to undertake an empowering mission of vengeance.
Quinn is looking to take down the villainous Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), and in order to do so, she must draw on the efforts of her flock. Collectively, they are known as the Birds of Prey, consisting of Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) and Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco).
Directed by Cathy Yan, the film is poised to wash the sour taste of the misfiring Suicide Squad from our mouths, while allowing the irreverent yet dangerous Quinn the opportunity to take centre stage. The first social media reactions are in, and they're enthusiastic about Robbie's gleeful performance, plus the film's unpredictable mixture of comedy and violence.
Critic Germain Lussier says Robbie and McGregor are excellent and infuse the movie with plenty of personality.
Birds of Prey is solid. The unpredictable structure keeps the first half moving and the action boosts the rest. Robbie is excellent, as is McGregor. It’s tamer than expected and the basic story can get lost in the complex setups but it works more often than not. #BirdsofPrey pic.twitter.com/H6TxjiudjI
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) January 29, 2020
Fandango's Erik Davis praises the movie as a twisted story of friendship shared between a host of oddball characters.
#BirdsOfPrey has terrific action, humor & some of the more memorable characters we’ve seen in a DC movie, but the biggest highlight is Margot Robbie. She is fantabulous as Harley, while also proving that sometimes our most valued relationships are the ones we have w/ good food pic.twitter.com/EDQ3sr5JtL
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) January 29, 2020
Influencer Meghan Camerena praises the movie's choreography and fight sequences.
The stunts on @birdsofpreywb were INSANE! I’m still in shock after just having seen it and can’t wait to watch it again. It’s quirky, action-packed, AND SO FUN!!! GET YOUR TICKETS ASAP! In theaters Feb. 7 #BirdsofPrey #wbpartner https://t.co/yiT50BvRRj pic.twitter.com/nuW8S5iZzN
— Meghan Camarena (@Strawburry17) January 29, 2020
Forbes journalist Scott Forbes says the movie is unencumbered with connections to the wider DC Universe, and also singles out Winstead for praise.
#BirdsofPrey is delightfully unassuming and unconcerned with its place in a larger context. It's a bonkers bananas crime comedy and a genuine party movie. Everyone is having a blast but Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Huntress like a supporting character from THE TICK. It rocks. pic.twitter.com/7MRMKkZ0oi
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) January 29, 2020
And Scott Menzel praises Yan for taking plenty of risks as a director.
BIRDS OF PREY: Cathy Yan has created a music infused celebration of female badassery. DC continues to take big risks and push boundaries. The perfect Harley Quinn movie. Margot Robbie crushes it. I loved all these ladies & am looking forward to the sequel/spin-off. #BirdsofPrey pic.twitter.com/eRF5FJzahP
— Scott Menzel (@TheOtherScottM) January 29, 2020
Click here to book your tickets for Birds of Prey, and cast your own verdict @Cineworld when it hits us on the 7th of February.
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