Top 10 Reasons Birds of Prey is Better Than Suicide Squad
#10: The Editing & Pacing
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One of the biggest issues with “Suicide Squad” was its pacing, which isn’t surprising since “multiple editors” were brought on board. The result was two hours of exposition loosely tied together by something resembling conflict. Making matters worse, “Suicide Squad” kept shoehorning in flashbacks with little rhyme or reason. “Birds of Prey” isn’t executed in chronological order either, but this narrative structure actually works to its advantage. The movie is told from Harley Quinn’s perspective and since her mind is unhinged, it makes sense that her story would jump around. While Harley isn’t the most focused narrator, the plot and motivations are never incoherent. Even when Harley backtracks to explain someone’s backstory, she does it in such an entertaining way that it’s hard to complain.
#9: It’s Funny
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David Ayer’s original cut of “Suicide Squad” was apparently much gloomier until the studio demanded something more humorous and fun, akin to what we saw in the trailers. With exception to a couple of lines from Harley and Will Smith’s Deadshot, though, most of the attempts at comedy fell flat. Heck, the funniest lines were in the trailers, but not the theatrically released film! Where “Suicide Squad” was a failed “Guardians of the Galaxy” wannabe, “Birds of Prey” feels like Deadpool’s soul sister. Like the Merc with a Mouth, Harley is an endless source of witty one-liners, screwball charm, and hilarious fourth wall breaks. Harley isn’t alone, however, as the entire cast brings their own distinctive comedic timing to the table.
#8: It’s More Visually Interesting
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While “Suicide Squad” wasn’t well-received upon release, some people gave it credit for at least being more colorful than “Man of Steel” or “Batman v Superman.” Looking back years later, however, those glimpses of color are overshadowed by a lot of grimy settings and muddled cinematography. Much of the time, it’s hard to even make out what’s going on. The audience misses nothing in “Birds of Prey.” Every scene pops out at us with eccentric art direction, costume design, and effects. The whole movie is like a comic book crossed with graffiti art. The fact that this was director Cathy Yan’s first big-budget production makes the film’s visual style all the more impressive. Of course, there are traces of Yan’s debut film, “Dead Pigs.”
#7: It Has Better Action
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If you’re not going to develop the characters or deliver an involving story, the least you could do is give us some cool action sequences. Yet, even the action in “Suicide Squad” was fairly by the numbers, resulting in one uninspired shootout after another. For a film that prides itself on having such over-the-top characters, the set pieces couldn’t have been more generic, accumulating with yet another giant sky beam. In “Birds of Prey,” the action matches our main character’s eccentric personality and the rebellious nature of her partners in crime. From Harley’s drug-fuelled prison escape to the climatic amusement park showdown, the film is a sugar rush that never slows down. Imagine “John Wick” meets the “Harley’s Holiday” episode from “Batman: The Animated Series.”
#6: It’s Not A Preview for Future DC Movies
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It’s fitting that “Suicide Squad” was recut by the company behind its teaser because the film was basically one bloated trailer for future DC projects. After “Batman v Superman,” we didn’t need another movie to remind us that “Justice League” was coming. Fortunately, “Birds of Prey” follows the examples set by “Wonder Woman,” “Aquaman,” and “Shazam!,” keeping things self-contained. Rather than thinking about upcoming movies, “Birds of Prey” focuses on telling a standalone story with only a few mild references to the larger DCEU. This amounts to better character development, which in turn leaves the audience waiting to see more of these people in sequels and spinoffs. At this point, we’d much rather see a movie about Huntress or Black Canary than “Justice League 2.”
#5: Harley Quinn Takes Center Stage
One of the few saving graces in “Suicide Squad” was Margot Robbie’s dead-on portrayal of Harley Quinn. While the dialogue and story didn’t offer much room for Harley to really let loose, the movie got a little more watchable whenever Robbie was on screen. Robbie straight-up steals the show in “Birds of Prey,” meaning that there’s rarely a dull moment. Harley’s constant presence not only paves the way for a funnier, more rambunctious romp, but also a more interesting character study. Harley started as the Joker’s henchwoman, but the character has since taken on a life of her own. This is reflected in “Birds of Prey,” as Harley tries to figure out who she is without Mr. J. In short, she’s a total wild card.
#4: It’s A Stronger Ensemble Piece
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There’s a moment in “Suicide Squad” where El Diablo says that he can’t lose another family. Given the lack of chemistry between the cast, though, this line never felt earned. While Harley gets the most screen time in “Birds of Prey,” this is far from a one-woman show. Ella Jay Basco makes a strong debut as pickpocket Cassandra, Jurnee Smollett-Bell beams with confidence as Black Canary, Rosie Perez is tough as nails as Renee Montoya, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead kills it as the Huntress. Although we wish some supporting players got a little more time to shine, everyone leaves their mark and shares a great rapport. Aside from “Kill Bill,” this is probably the closest we’ll ever get to a “Fox Force Five” movie.
#3: A Superior Villain
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We remember nothing about “Suicide Squad’s” interpretation of Enchantress outside of her ridiculous outfit and dance moves. We all want to forget about Jared Leto’s performance as the Joker, which “Birds of Prey” apparently did. While the Joker is mentioned in passing, he’s essentially a no-show with the spotlight being shined on Ewan McGregor’s Roman Sionis, aka Black Mask. Granted, it is a little disappointing that Roman just wears a black mask on occasion rather than having one fused to his face. Nevertheless, McGregor has a blast in the role, crafting a villain who’s menacing and despicable, but still classy, humorous, and a great foil for Harley. It’s also a nice departure for McGregor, who hasn’t gotten to play many villains in the past.
#2: It Went For an R Rating
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Amanda Waller tracked down the worst of the worst for her Suicide Squad. When a movie is PG-13, though, the characters are never allowed to be that bad. Even Jared Leto pushed for the film to be rated R, but the studio played it safe. If 2019’s “Joker” taught Warner Bros. and DC anything, it’s that rolling the dice on a hard-R comic book movie can pay off in fantabulous ways. “Birds of Prey” dives headfirst into R-rated territory, but never goes too far. As bloody and graphic as the violence gets, it’s still executed in a fun, playful fashion. The use of four-letter words also feels natural and in sync with the characters, unlike 2019’s “Hellboy” where the foul language came off as forced.
#1: It Had a Clearer Vision
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Studio interference isn’t always a bad thing, but “Suicide Squad” is a textbook example of how it can derail a whole production. What started out as a much bleaker film was tweaked at the eleventh hour to be more lighthearted, turning out the tonally confused mess we’d all expect. With “Birds of Prey,” you get the sense that Cathy Yan and screenwriter Christina Hodson went in with a clear vision that they ultimately executed. Yan described her film as “‘Pulp Fiction’ meets ‘Rashomon’” with a bit of “A Clockwork Orange,” which is essentially what we get. “Birds of Prey” knows exactly what it wants to be, delivering an off-the-wall action picture that’s as crazy as a circus and as absurd as a classic farce.
