Canary Black puts its female lead, played by Kate Beckinsale, front and center as a hyper-competent secret agent. The focus on her identity and the formulaic "tough woman in a man's world" angle is front and center, sometimes taking precedence over character depth and realism. It feels like casting and story decisions favored ticking modern diversity boxes, often at the expense of organic character development.

The film subverts traditional masculinity, with male characters mostly sidelined or shown as either ineffectual or obstacles. Family and traditional values barely register except as motivation for the lead, and the action often positions mainstream cultural traits as outdated impediments. Some viewers may see it as following a familiar modern Hollywood blueprint, deprioritizing longstanding cultural themes.

There’s little room for alternative viewpoints: any traditional or dissenting perspectives are tagged as villainous or obstacles for the lead. Nearly every character shares the film’s smug certainty in its chosen social commentary, with debate or genuine opposition notably absent. It seems ideological diversity didn’t make the script.