Margot
Robbie’s crazy yet charismatic scene-stealing turn as
psychologist-turned-Joker’s sidekick Harley Quinn was just about the only thing
that elevated and made 2016’s 'Suicide Squad' even remotely watchable, so when
a 'Suicide Squad' sequel-spinoff centering on its best character was announced I was intrigued to say the
least. The spinoff, colorfully titled
‘Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn’ (since rebranded simply as 'Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey') is nothing less than the playful anthem to kick-ass
girl power we’ve all been waiting for.
‘Harley Quinn,' directed by first-time helmer Cathy Yan, follows
our loveably kooky villain after she broke up with (okay, got unceremoniously
dumped by) the Joker. Without the
protection of the crown prince of madness, she’s now fair game for anyone who has grievances with her, which she lists extensively each time when faced with
one of them, including the fact that she “voted for Bernie.” Chief among them is Gotham crime lord Roman
Sionis aka “Black Mask” (Ewan McGregor) and his sadistic right-hand man Victor
Zsasz (Chris Messina), who’s after a diamond containing the bank accounts of
the Bertinelli crime family (whom Sionis killed in a power grab) Harley gotten possession of from a wayward teen pick-pocket. In order to survive, our pony-tailed
protagonist must call on more than her wits, charm and nimble acrobatics alone, enlisting the aid of the "Birds of Prey," an ad-hoc group
of female kick-assery including Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black
Canary (Jurnee-Smolett Bell) and disgraced GCPD detective Renee Montoya (Rosie
Perez, I kid you not).
'Harley Quinn' is sassy and fun, largely thanks to yet another scene-stealing performance
from the talented Aussie actress. Robbie’s
Harley Quinn is an eminently likeable caricature, a looney cartoonish odd-ball
blend of Betty Boop, Jessica Rabbit and Marilyn Monroe. Even in mortal peril, her Harley exudes playful
innocence and a girl-just-wanna-have-fun insouciance that’s nigh irresistible. Too bad the movie underperformed at the box office,
because it really is both fantastic and fabulous. Get it?
Grade: A
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