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on wings of lead
Flat-footed Batman redo suffers bland characters
By Ethan Alter
Laugh all you want, but the WB's "Smallville" remains one of television's true surprises. Yes, the show suffers from too many monster-of-the-week episodes, a dull romantic triangle, and too much portentous dialogue.
And yes, the characters bear little resemblance to their comic book counterparts, which no doubt has Superman purists tearing their hair out.
Yet you have to admire the producers for sticking so strongly to their conception of "Smallville" as a superhero soap opera. Week in, week out, the show has viewers cheering and groaning at the same time, much like such classic prime-time teen sudsers as "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Dawson's Creek" in its heyday.
This sort of consistent vision is one of the many things missing from the WB's "Birds of Prey," which premieres tonight in its 9 p.m. Wednesday time slot. The series is the latest production from Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Joe Davola, three of the minds behind "Smallville."
If "Smallville" is a soap opera, "Birds" is designed to be a more straightforward action/adventure program, with some patented WB angst tossed in.
The first episode certainly looks great, with lots of stylish camerawork and well-choreographed action sequences. Yet flashy visuals can't hide the bland characters and flat-footed storytelling.
Comic book fans who object to "Smallville's" interpretation of the Superman story will go nuts over "Birds of Prey's" take on Batman. In this version, the Caped Crusader and his longtime enemy Catwoman have a torrid love affair that results in the birth of a daughter, Helena.
As the show opens, Helena witnesses her mother's murder by a henchman of Batman's other nemesis, the Joker. That same night, the villain pays a visit to Barbara Gordon, who secretly serves as Batman's partner, Batgirl. Catching her by surprise in her home, the Joker fires a bullet into her abdomen, crippling her for life. Batman manages to take his foe back into custody, but the damage has been done. A short time later, the hero abandons Gotham City for good, leaving his daughter in Barbara's care.
Flash-forward seven years later and the former Batgirl has trained Helena to take over her father's mantle as Gotham's protector. Operating as the Huntress, Helena goes through the motions of fighting crime, but she would much rather be out partying. Needless to say, her cavalier attitude doesn't sit well with the more serious-minded Barbara, who still feels an obligation to keep the streets safe.
Into the duo's lives comes Dinah, a young girl with the ability to see into people's minds. Despite her complete lack of fighting skills, not to mention an irritating personality, Barbara lets Dinah join the group, and just in time to combat a villain who has psychic powers of his own.
A trio of attractive women kicking butt has been the basis for a number of television shows, but the premise tends to work best when it's played in a lighthearted vein. A few genuinely funny quips aside, "Birds of Prey" takes itself a little too seriously, especially considering that its lead hero battles evildoers in an outfit that's more Victoria's Secret than Justice League.
It's not as if the two leads don't have it in them to camp it up a bit; as Barbara and Helena, Dina Meyer and Ashley Scott share a nice rapport and are able to put a humorous spin on even their worst lines.
How could anyone be expected to say "I'm the Huntress and you're the prey" with a straight face, anyway?
The lack of humor wouldn't be so distracting if the show's dramatic elements were better handled.
Unfortunately the writers seem unable to muster a fresh take on the WB's formula for young adult characters. Based on the first episode, "Birds of Prey" isn't going to impress as an adventure show either. The plot doesn't make a lot of sense, and the final battle is anticlimactic at best.
Still, it must be said that the premiere viewers will see tonight is far superior to the version that made the rounds earlier this year. The show has been tightened up considerably and a pivotal role was wisely recast. If the producers allow the show to loosen up, "Birds of Prey" could be a good guilty pleasure. As it is, it's got the look, but not the attitude.
October 9, 2002 © 2002 Media Life
-Ethan Alter is a New York writer and a regular contributor to Media Life
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