Let’s face it. The main question that everyone
had going into Suicide Squad was whether or not this film would resurrect a
fumbling DC movie universe. Will this be the film where they burst
everything wide open and take over the world or would this be another
questionable entry in the Warner owned property. In many ways this film
is a bit of a gamble. How would an audience accept a comic book film
where the heroes are villains and the villains are, in some not too
distant past, would have been considered heroes or good guys. In this
film there is no one riding in dressed in white. There are levels of
morality between our group of villains.
The film is set in the aftermath of Batman v.
Superman where the federal government fears of other supermen. Paranoia
fills the air as the thought of metahumans that do not hold the beliefs
of Clark Kent could overrun the world. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) has a
creative idea where she creates an elite unit using super powered
beings and extremely talented humans as a reactionary group in the event
of an overpowering enemy. Yes, this idea lends a lot to The Dirty Dozen
in that there is no coming home from an incomplete mission. The group
consists of Deadshot (Will Smith), an assassin that never misses. Harley
Quinn (Margot Robbie) an acrobatic psychopath who happens to be the
better half of the Clown Prince of Crime The Joker (Jared Leto), who
plans on breaking his baby out of her dilemma. Jay Hernandez is Diablo,
who literally holds the power of fire in his hands. Killer Croc (Adewale
Akinnouye-Agbaje) brings a raw power to the group… and the ability to
roam the sewers. Boomerang (Jai Courtney) rounds out the squad as an
Aussie villain looking for a way out and using fellow members to do it.
The ground baby sitter is Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), who reminds the
squad throughout the film that he is the final say on the ground, only
answering to Waller. He is also romantically involved with the witch
possessed June Moone (Cara Delevingne), causing the typical problems
when a hairy situation arises and that situation is that when the witch
called Enchantress escapes, she decides to destroy humanity with a
machine like the ones humans worship. Initially the Suicide Squad’s
mission is basic, but balloons to the regular “save the world” motif.
Suicide Squad cuts straight to the point, showing the
history of these characters via flashbacks. It would have been nice to
explore these characters a little deeper, but we only have 2 hours and
if this makes enough money… We get the situation set up quickly with
very little baggage, other than Leto’s Joker and that baggage is most
welcome. When her appears it’s a great performance that takes Ledger’s
take on the character and adds the over the top comic book dimension
that this film employs. I’m looking forward to Leto getting more screen
time in the upcoming films. Will Smith and Margot Robbie really run with
their characters and seem to enjoy the playground they’ve been given to
run around in. This is one of Smith’s best performances in a long time
and, even though he has become an iconic actor, gets lost in the role of
Deadshot. For Robbie, this film will push her to super stardom. All
around the film has a wonderful cast that are having fun, which shows in
the film and lets the audience in on the good time.
David Ayer treats this film as his own child and
it shows. There is a care to not lampoon the characters and it delivers a
genuine feel to the film that wasn’t in Batman v. Superman. I cared
about these characters, some of whom I had very little interaction with.
Batman v. Superman, featuring some of the most iconic figures in
fiction made me not care about characters that I had grown up with. Been
born with practically. Be it due to acting, editing, or direction I had
a stake in the Suicide Squad. Batman v. Superman didn’t give me that. For that, we
have to give David Ayer some credit in nor letting the DC ship capsize.
Not that the film is without issues. The most
glaring one is that the villains in the film are weak. Very weak. I
couldn’t pinpoint where on Cara Delevingne’s portrayal of the
Enchantress was it too much ham and too much holding back. It was both.
She is just there, with her CGI brother, sprouting out countless CGI
henchmen. Nameless CGI henchmen like a video game. It is an old saying
that I’ll throw out there, your film is only as good as its villain.
That is the big stumbling block of this film. What is a great journey
stumbles in the final act, leveling what could have been a great film
down to a little above average. Yes, Enchantress is that bad of a
villain.
So what’s the verdict? Suicide Squad does run much better
than Batman v Superman. As a whole the film makes me feel better about
later entries in the DC Universe, but it is not the all out blow the
competition away film that they really need right now. There was major
stumbling in the third act that holds the film back. The scenes that are
the Squad are wonderful. When you throw the weak villain in, it grinds
to a halt. Overall, it’s a good film. Not great, but not mediocre. As an
entire piece I rate it ***1/2, the same as Batman v Superman. BVS
rating was shaky, but solidified with the extended cut. SS is a fine,
fun film with a lackluster villain and a meh finish. Good, but not
great.
