The Suicide Squad Review

The Suicide Squad

Director: James Gunn
Cast Headliners: Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, John Cena, Sylvester Stallone, Daniela Melchior, Michael Rooker, Peter Capaldi, David Demastachlian, many many amazing more  
Original Release Date : August 6th, 2021 (Theatrical and for-now-free on HBO Max digital certain tiers)


       The Suicide Squad is such an incredibly interesting combination of histories in its mix of the old DCEU, the new DCEU, and even...the Marvel MCU?  The 2016 original was an underwhelming, overly edgy film that notably actually marked the very first major non-Batman / Superman film for DC Comics. It's ambitions to cram a multitude of villains together sounded great on paper but was dragged down by the cheese. The DCEU too has had new installments and sequels which have varied in quality and tone. Lastly , James Gunn within the past few years was temporarily fired by his employer for behind the scenes drama which heavily delayed Guardians of The Galaxy but also gave us the idea for this. We have a win-win for that to deal with later but most importantly this nexus of happenings has created an R-Rated Gunn Dream fans will love. 

While there are a few returning characters from the first movie and a same general concept The Suicide Squad may as well be a reboot (yet also due to some of those could have fit a number 2 on the logo as well). Mysterious government agent Amanda Waller(Violas Davis just as fearsome / morally vile-y gray as ever) offers super-powered villainous criminals a chance to be out of prison as part of the titular Suicide Squad.  Multiple teams are called to the South American (or potentially Caribbean) fictitious island nation of Corto Maltese to stop a violent coup and potentially get involved in other shenanigans along the way. 

It's an understandably large cast spread across not just one but two teams of agents. Clown princess of crime Harley Quinn(Margot Robbie) draws the main connective threads to the past DCEU (especially after her character growth seen in 2020's Birds Of Prey) but for some moderate parts of the film takes a backseat / her own path; Robbie is as entertainingly perfect as ever with sassy lines and stand-out action. Unfortunately for being more of what audiences would want it's contrasted in that the other returners in army colonel leader Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman) and even moreso in is-what-he-sounds-like “Captain Boomerang” (Jai Courtney) not doing much at all. 

The amazing thing is that the new characters are so worthy of the legends. As a bit of the new team leader and deutragonist is Robert DuBois / “Bloodsport” (Idris Elba) who's awesome armored exoskeleton / suite of nano-weapons would make Boba Fett and the Mandalorian proud. Elba brings a nice mix of mostly fierceness and funny quips with bits of emotion / some surprising insecurities. He's especially best pitted in banter against the film's equally memorable Christopher Smith / “Peacemaker” (John Cena) being one of the roles of the latter's career with an ironic name and peculiar personality. 

Of course director James Gunn's oddness is great here because it's what he did in Guardians of the Galaxy by helping with the story / script so deeply like all good directors do. Once again he makes weird deep lore characters like the wholesome cute yet deadly hybrid god King Shark (a perfect Sylvester Stallone), rat-using Ratcatcher II(Daniela Melchior who brings some of the other main emotion of the film along with a contender for most-adorable versus King Shark in Sebastian the rat), grotesque awkward energy using Abner Krill / “Polka-Dot Man” (David Dastmalchian), Weasel (Sean Gunn), and more work so digest-ably fun together.  Everyone gets at least one or sometimes much more memorable moments which is a credit (And truly MCU-esque aspect) of this ensemble cast.   Smaller parts in various friends / foes like mercenary allies Savant(Michael Rooker), Blackguard(Pete Davidson), T.D.K (Nathan Fillion), Milton (Julio Ruiz), John (Steve Agee), and many more bring edgy joy.

  It's almost like a dark version of GoTG where every character had the peculiar banter of Drax , Groot , and Mantis at once to zany extremes never thought possible. Unfortunately antagonists such as dictator (Juan Diego Botto), his General ally (Joaquin Cosio), and super-intelligence brain-spiked The Thinker (Peter Capaldi, a couple quips aside)  do not make much impact or trend towards token-generic but the writing lifts all and has plenty of twists, turns, factions ,and more. 

What amazing bloody darkness that is. James Gunn always brings a magical touch to his work and this film is no different. Action sequences are big, bombastic, and CGI shiny (nigh-perfectly) this time with the blood and gore he was never allowed to do at Marvel. When one is laughing very often one will go “ooooh” at the kills achieved or intricate sets made or surreal colorful pieces of art created via motion or clever use of songs or...ahh, it's a Gunn movie through and through.  Original score by composer John Murphy adds to the ambiance as well although when it isn't whimsical it can be generic but once again like some of the other characters it feels like a clever use of satire. 

There really isn't any problem at all with this film and it's everything the fans would want.  Perhaps only sometimes it bends reality a bit too much for an even further tonal whiplash, wastes some lesser-used but potential-packed characters, or has confusing lore connections. Otherwise this is an amazing , hilarious, bloody , feels-inducing thrill ride that's a must see on any screen big or small. Can't wait to see what James Gunn does next no matter what superhero team it's for, or otherwise. 8.8 out of 10