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She’s broken up with Mr J – but has Harley really thought everything through?

There’s something about the female-led DC movies in their releases this past decade – stretching back to Man of Steel when the loosely interwoven tapestry began – that has brought out the best in the franchises. The first Wonder Woman movie, and now Birds of Prey, have had the pace, verve and excitement that Batman vs Superman, Suicide Squad and Justice League have lacked.

We don’t get to see the Joker in this – bar a silhouette at the start – and although we’re in Gotham, the nearest we get to the Batman is a brief reference by Harley when she’s explaining how to be a master criminal like her. This is very much Harley’s movie, with top billing to the Birds of Prey not really being justified by the amount of time we get with them comparatively. And does Margot Robbie grab this by the scruff of the neck and run with it!

It’s profane – this number of f***s and it still got a 15?! – and it’s violent… yet the worst moment in it is when the character played by Ewan McGregor (also clearly having a ball) humiliates a young woman who he thinks has been laughing at him. (And anyone who thinks that sort of person doesn’t exist should think back, or ask about, the late 80s and early 90s, when greed was king and men very much did get away with that.)

Director Cathy Yan handles all aspects of the movie confidently. There’s everything from car chases to musical numbers to bonding over a bowl of icecream with a hyena in tow – as well as a well-choreographed fight scene in a funhouse – and even better, it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Extras weren’t available to review at present, but when the Bluray and DVD are released, we’ll cover them then!

Verdict: Harley’s back – and everyone should know it. 9/10

Paul Simpson