“A Harlequin without a Puddin’,” was the arts review I wrote about the movie Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, which was directed by Cathy Yan and was released in January of 2020. This arts review was written for an assignment from when I was a print and online journalism student at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology). The 866 word – Birds of Prey– arts review also included a side bar that I wrote and titled, “10 Facts about Harley Quinn,” and was 205 words long. I also wrote a short “Author’s Biography” for the purpose of the assignment as well. I chose the arts review because I enjoyed writing it and I feel like it is a good example of what I am capable of writing when I am truly passionate about something.

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

Directed by Cathy Yan

Reviewed by Aya El-kadri

We have all faced rejection at one point in our lives. Whether it was a school you wanted to go to, a job you really wanted, or in this case, a bad breakup.

Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie) demonstrates how recovering from a long-term relationship can be hard in Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn.

The film takes place after Suicide Squad –months after the defeat of Enchantress and the breakup of Harley Quinn and Joker.

Suicide Squad left fans craving more Harley Quinn, which is well delivered with Birds of Prey.

Harley Quinn struggles with reinventing herself and getting back on her feet, while figuring out who she is without her ex, the Joker.

As fans of the DC universe may recall, Harley Quinn, formerly Dr. Harleen Quinzel, was a psychiatrist that “fell hard” for her patient the Joker and together, they were the “king and queen of Gotham.”

Harley Quinn tries to forget, as many people do, by drowning her sorrows in alcohol. She has lost her purpose and doesn’t know who she is anymore.

Harley Quinn sees herself as the Joker’s “Harlequin,” an object that isn’t useful without a “Puddin’” to “serve.”

“Do you know what a harlequin is? A harlequin’s role is to serve. It’s nothing without a master,” Harley Quinn says while she is out getting drunk at a nightclub.

While trying to prove that she is done with the Joker, Harley Quinn tries to cut all her ties to the Joker, but only succeeds in putting a giant Black Mask (played by Ewan McGregor) shaped target on her back.

In an attempt to save face, quite literally, Harley Quinn agrees to help Roman Sionis (Black Mask) recover a stolen artifact by capturing a young girl named Cassandra Cain (played by Ella Jay Basco).

For those who don’t know, in the original storyline Cassandra Cain is the mute daughter of two assassins and was raised under Ra’s Al Ghul until Bruce Wayne (Batman) adopted her.

Cassandra was the second to take up the mantel of Batgirl. She also borrowed the name Orphan for a while and later made a name for herself in Hong Kong as the Black Bat.

However, it doesn’t seem to be the case in Birds of Prey Cassandra Cain is young pickpocket who ends up pickpocketing the wrong person and is not mute, unlike her comic book counterpart.

The story jumps back and forth between perspectives and the timeline.

Along the way Harley Quinn encounters Dinah Lance, also known as Black Canary (played by Jurnee Smollett-Bell), a singer with an unwitting inheritance at Sionis’s club who is forced into an unwilling promotion.

Renee Montoya (played by Rosie Perez), a GCPD (Gotham City Police Detective), is trying to build a case against Sionis, but her promotion and case keeps getting stolen out from under her.

“The crossbow killer” or Huntress, also known as Helena Rosa Bertinelli (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a vigilante out for revenge.

The film contains LGBT elements with the mention of Renee Montoya’s past relationship with district attorney, Ellen Yee (played by Ali Wong).

Birds of Prey is one of the better live action DC movies that is worth watching. There aren’t enough diverse movies that are not only inclusive, but also feature strong female superheroes or ex-villains who are facing relatable situations that women face in society be it in the workforce, abusive or toxic relationships, or even in everyday life.

Harley Quinn teaches us that we don’t need a man to know who and what we are or what we want –even if it is something as simple as a sandwich.

Renee Montoya shows us that even in a man’s world –where discrimination is prominent– one should never stop fighting for what they believe in even at the risk of one’s job.

Helena Rosa Bertinelli (Huntress) proves that your past can empower you and Dinah Lance (Black Canary) helps us to understand that it is never to late to find your voice.

All four women prove that women can be strong and no matter what, you can always find a way to stand up, no matter how hard or painful it is, for what you believe in.

All four woman played their parts perfectly, but Margot Robbie’s acting brought Harley Quinn to life in Birds of Prey.

The movie is worth watching if you keep an open mind. It is difficult to fully follow the story with all the jumping back and forth between perspectives and the timeline.

The music has a catchy beat, it isn’t as good as the soundtrack that was in Suicide Squad, yet it is a similar style that still suits the mood.

Be warned the language, violence and sexual themes are not kid friendly – the film is ‘R’ rated, so leave the kids behind.

Before watching Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, make sure to watch Suicide Squad.

Invite the girls for a nice movie night out or –when Birds of Prey is available to rent, buy, or stream– a night in.

If you take nothing from this, remember that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

1. Harley Quinn’s name is a pun. A double entendre of the name “Harlequin.”
2. Her name was inspired by the character “Harlequin” a 16^th century, Italian Commedia Dell’arte theater “stock character.”
3. Harley Quinn’s character was created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dinin.
4. Her full name is Harleen Frances Quinzel.
5. She didn’t only study psychology. She is also a well-versed gymnast, skilled with weaponry and is known to have an immunity to several types of poisons and toxins.
6. Harley Quinn first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series episode: “Joker’s Favor.”
7. The first comic that Harley Quinn was in was the September 1993 comic number 12 of The Batman Adventures.
8. The only live action movie appearances of Harley Quinn are Suicide Squad (2016) and Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020).
9. Harley Quinn is also the title character of a 2019, adult animated TV show featuring her friendship with Poison Ivy after she leaves the Joker.
10. Harley Quinn’s favourite sandwich, in Birds of Prey, features the “perfect egg sandwich” with eggs, cheese, bacon and “just a dash of hot sauce” on a ciabatta bun. The way “life saver Sal” makes it for her.

Aya El-kadri is an avid superhero movie fan who has watched most – if not all– of both Marvel and DC comics’ movies.

El-kadri has a love for all things superhero related and is fully passionate about her favourite characters and universes.