Five years after the release of “Suicide Squad” in theaters, we get the release of “The Suicide Squad.” Just for clarification sake, this is a pseudo-sequel and you don’t need to know anything about the first studio-botched movie in order to watch this installment.
Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) has once again amassed a small collection of all-too-expendable mediocre villains to complete an off-the-books mission. She’s sending returning characters Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), and Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney). Though, this time they are joined by a ton of other operatives, but most notably Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Ratcatcher II (Daniela Melchior) and Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian). Together, these not-so-super villains are dropped onto the island of Corto Maltese to take down a violent warlord.
Director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Slither) has his stamp, for mostly better and some worse, all over The Suicide Squad. His style consists of an omnipresent, yet relevant soundtrack, dialogue that most teenage boys would be happy to quote, but also a fantastic approach to balancing an ensemble cast.
This might just be the movie that most audience members felt they were promised with the marketing of the original movie half a decade ago. Those promos promised a high body count, lovable characters, and a ridiculous ride. In those ways, this movie delivers.
Be warned, this comic book adaptation leans VERY heavily into its R rating. It’s rife with gore, language, and nudity. Some recent comic movies have petitioned for the rating for a few words, but mostly a heavier tone. However, TSS is a madcap experience that was seemingly created by hilarious teens high on Jolt Cola. Honestly, without some of the more graphic content, the movie wouldn’t work nearly as well as it does. The violence is unflinching and plays head explosions as shock value comedy. The hits hit hard and have the ability to startle the audience to laughter.
The script is a mixed bag. The pacing of scenes feels natural, but a good 15 minutes could have been cut from the second act. The ensemble plays so well together, and most of these characters get real moments to shine. However, only one in five jokes actually lands, so the dialogue build around the constant jokes feels weak.
The cast and choice of characters are a blast to watch. Sure, Harley Quinn is a staple in DC movies at this point, but the fan favorites are surely Ratcatcher II and Polka-Dot Man. (In what world would I ever have said that about a comic book movie?) Idris Elba is a reliable protagonist, but his stoicism is thankfully counteracted by John Cena’s Peacemaker, whose toilet bowl shaped helmet seems more likely to contain his testosterone, than act as armor. While I’d never complain about seeing a live-action King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone) on the big screen, I was a bit disappointed there wasn’t more fun centered around him. The one joke got old pretty fast.
What brings this movie from the average to the surprisingly quite good is the stellar action set pieces. This movie puts it all on the screen and knows what it takes to keep viewers entertained. It’s rare for a comic book flick to nail the landing, but TSS truly does. The action builds with every moment being more outlandish than the previous. While it may feel obvious as to how it will end, it kept my attention with legitimate laughs, gross-out moments, and great choreography. The action at the end of the movie actually redeems much of the wasted jokes told previously and brought up the movie a half letter grade.
The Suicide Squad surprised me. I was completely apathetic about a retread into what could easily have been a pointless comic book movie. And while it’s not the most consistent experience, it delivers on plenty of laughs that supplement the gratifying action. This is the opposite of family friendly. Instead, James Gunn seems to have received a blank check to realize his zany dreams. I have a feeling he’ll be dipping his toes back into this pool sooner rather than later. B
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