Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

— There’s a reason this display of girl power met with less enthusiasm than expected. The main character has lived in the shadow of a man for too long which, evidently, gives her a free pass to have hurt others without remorse, and sets her up as an archetypal antihero. She’s now rejected that past, but still embraces mayhem, violence, and drugs, as she searches for her own voice and a handful of powerful women with whom to stand, amplifying the popular “we are more powerful standing together than standing alone” adage. This basic thread unfolds with a colorful, gleeful, cartoonish cinematic brushstroke coupled with a soundtrack of perfectly chosen songs. Director Cathy Yan’s done a good job of embracing the free-for-all and making it a gaudy, maybe even mesmerizing, ride, and I do commend the film for standing on its own and not requiring much prior knowledge of the DC Universe, but, in the end, even a feminist flourish doesn’t elevate it to the upper tier of its genre. (Later renamed “Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey.”) [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2020. 109 min. Directed by Cathy Yan. Starring Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, and Ewan McGregor.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/birds-of-prey-and-the-fantabulous-emancipation-of-one-harley-quinn-movie-review-2020