"Suicide Squad" Review

Title: Suicide Squad

Directed by: David Ayer

Written by: David Ayer

Year: 2016


After the divisive Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, DC and Warner Brothers has a lot riding on Suicide Squad. The trailers so far have been very good, with the Blitz trailer being especially awesome. The casting is promising and there is plenty of interest in this film. Does Suicide Squad give the DCEU the jump start it needs, or has this cinematic universe committed suicide?

Following the events of Batman v Superman, the government feels unprepared for a Superman-like threat. Amanda Waller assembles a team of criminals and meta-humans to help combat any potential threats. But will this team of crazies and vagabonds prove effective?

One of the film's most luring assets is its unique casting. I was a bit worried about Will Smith going into the film. But Smith does a fantastic job as Deadshot. He brings his signature charm to the role, nailing the quips and bringing a humanity to the character at key moments. I thought Margot Robbie being cast as Harley Quinn was perfect as soon as it was announced, and the film proves it. Robbie completely loses herself in the character, evoking insanity and likability with every line. She, along with Smith, is one of the standout actors.

But my favorite character was actually Captain Boomerang, played by Jai Courtney. I have given Courtney plenty of flack in the past, but he was excellent in this movie. He does not get a lot to do, but he savors every moment of screen time granted to him. Courtney has a captivating screen presence and is absolutely hilarious. Also great was Jay Hernandez as Diablo. I will not be surprised if many claim him to be their favorite character. The meta-human is given a rich backstory and Hernandez does really well with the material.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje portrays Killer Croc and, though he barely gets any lines, he does a great job with the motion capture. He moves his head like an animal, which adds to the character's appearance. Unfortunately, Killer Croc's voice is heavily garbled, which makes most of his lines difficult to understand. Cara Delevingne portrays Dr. June Moone/Enchantress. She also has a third role, but I will keep that vague for now. As Dr. Moone and Enchantress, Delevingne is very good and manages to be quite creepy as the latter. But as that third entity, she waves her arms and moves her body far too much and far too awkwardly. She also delivers her lines as if she has something lodged in her throat when playing that third person.

Joel Kinnaman plays Rick Flagg and he gives an okay performance. Aside from a few good scenes, he is not very impressive; especially when compared to the colorful cast surrounding him. Karen Fukuhara is given nothing to do as Katana. I hate to say it, but because the character has so few lines, Katana could have been played by anybody. Viola Davis is on top form as Amanda Waller. A crucial character in the DC universe, Amanda Waller is a coldhearted, manipulative woman, and these features are embodied spectacularly by Davis. She was the perfect choice for the role.

Now, Jared Leto as the Joker -- I have mixed thoughts. I think he nails the voice and line delivery; he definitely gets into the psyche of the character. However, he does go too over the top at times, even for the Joker. Also, I am not a big fan of the Joker's appearance. I like the hairstyle fine, but the tatoos are excessive and the grill on his teeth looks atrocious. This is a modern take on the mobster-Joker; I just wish it was not this modern. This is too small of a sample size to rank Leto's Joker, so I am not entirely sold on his portrayal; but there is plenty of potential here.

The first hour of this picture is pretty damn awesome. The introduction to the characters is executed very well. A lot of it is exposition, but it is handled in a very creative fashion. The editing and visuals for the introduction to the squad mix together well, making for a memorable and engaging sequence. The entire first act focuses on establishing these characters, the threat, and getting the team together. Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and Diablo are each given terrific backstories that add a lot of depth to them. Captain Boomerang, Killer Croc, and Enchantress are sidelined in this regard, with barely any background given. I will say that Enchantress had one of the more interesting introductions, but it was terribly rushed. The film clearly has its favorites, but some of the lesser characters actually have more highlights than the main ones.

The mission given to the Suicide Squad is not fitting at all. The villain is wildly mismatched for how this team is equipped. In fact, the Justice League would be much better suited to tackle this threat. Also, the villain is poorly written. It is a waste of an interesting character, backed by a laughable performance. No, the Joker is not the antagonist. Instead, the Joker is the wild card of this picture; you never know when he is going to pop up and he drastically changes the situation whenever he appears. Incidentally, if you were expecting to see a lot of the Clown Prince of Crime, I am afraid you will find yourself disappointed. The Joker appears infrequently and does not have much screen time. In fact, the film would have benefitted from his omission, with the exception of Harley's flashbacks. He offers nothing integral to the plot and only serves to flesh out Harley's character.

In addition to the villain being weak, the story is quite a mess. The second act is alright, but nothing to write home about. As the film goes on, the cityscape becomes bland and repetitive, with rain being the only alternating feature. Everything looks the same, which does not give the movie the color it needs. The characters have a few shining moments, but the plot is just so paper thin that the film is running on attitude alone. The unique, clashing personalities are entertaining and well-acted, but deserved a better story in return.

However, once the third act rolls around, the movie takes a nosedive. Character motivations go out the window, there are plot holes at every turn, and the editing is sloppy as can be. The final act of Suicide Squad is the film's biggest issue. Barely anything makes sense and the characters are forced into inappropriate positions by the script. That is not to say that there is nothing redeemable about the third act. In fact, one of the best scenes in the film is found in the latter third of the picture. The scene in the bar when all the characters are reflecting on who they are and what they want to do is very well done. The interactions feel organic, making for some great character moments. There are some good jokes and touching stories, but none of it comes to fruition because the entire squad abandons their motivations without reason.

The final confrontation is pretty great, though; I will not lie. The fight with the secondary villain is very cool, even if a certain element of the fight comes out of nowhere, raising plenty of questions. The action, overall, is impressive. There are numerous battles that showcase the various characters' abilities. Even though some are not as prominent, such as Captain Boomerang and Killer Croc, they do have one or two highlights. What is not impressive are the opponents they face. They look like mutated seaweed, displaying zero creativity in their design.

The visual effects are seamless. Nothing looks awkward or out of place, and the motion-capture-work on Killer Croc gets special praise. Though I would have preferred if he were given a more pronounced snout, his design is splendidly horrific. The costumes are brilliantly inspired and match the characters well (minus the Joker). The musical score for this film took me by surprise. I did not notice anything too good in the first act, but once the action gets going, so does the score. Steven Price does a wonderful job with the music. Suicide Squad also boasts an extensive soundtrack with various songs. While I think most of the songs fit the tone of the film, I believe there are too many included. Furthermore, several of them are played in quick succession, which gives the movie a music-video-like quality that I did not always find appealing.

*SPOILERS AHEAD* Alright, I have tip-toed around the villain long enough. The main antagonist in Suicide Squad is Enchantress. Now, this sounds like an intriguing concept, I will grant you that. However, it does not mesh with the tone or attitude of the film at all. Enchantress has a very cool design that makes her look like she leaped off the screen of a horror flick. But the witch is able to restore her former appearance once she becomes the villain, which is far less impressive. Delevingne's performance consists of awkward dance moves and exaggerated round tones when she speaks. Enchantress is not only a poor antagonist for the Suicide Squad, but also a mismatched one.

*SPOILERS AHEAD* Enchantress brings her brother, Incubus, back to life to help her, and he is utterly forgettable. The only thing worth remembering about this character is his fight with El Diablo. In order to combat Incubus, Diablo unleashes his full potential, motivated by the idea of not wanting to lose another family. Mind you, he has only known his team for a few hours. Anyway, Diablo transforms into something that resembles a giant, flaming witch doctor. I think the design is very original, but this comes out of left field. Is the source of Diablo's power magical? Does he have a spirit that possesses him just like Dr. Moone? None of this is explained. What I can say is that his apparent death carries weight, because he is arguably the most likable character on the squad. I do not believe he is dead, but future films will tell.

*SPOILERS AHEAD* I suppose I should also mention the cameos. It was made obvious that Batman was going to be in this film, played by Ben Affleck. He only has two scenes, but they are used effectively, and Affleck continues to impress as the Caped Crusader. In addition, there is a mid-credits scene involving Waller and Bruce Wayne. He requests information from her that will help him form the Justice League. This is a very good scene and seems to set up Justice League very well. The other cameo comes from Ezra Miller as the Flash. Though I am still not entirely on board with the plastic-looking costume, Miller is quickly winning me over. He only has one line, but I am so excited to see his solo film and what he can bring to the upcoming Justice League picture.

*SPOILER FREE* Suicide Squad is a fun and entertaining installment in the DCEU. Though the film nails many aspects, it falters in many others. The majority of the cast is marvelous, with Smith, Robbie, Davis, and Courtney being the scene-stealers; the visuals are striking; the music, for the most part, complements the style; the action is well-executed; and the entire first act is loads of fun. What brings this film down is the weak story; the lame villain; some sloppy editing; and a bad third act. I can see how many people will not take a liking to this film, but I personally had a really good time watching it. As someone who likes Batman v Superman and really likes Man of Steel, I think Suicide Squad is worth your box office dollars. Though heavily flawed and quite messy, I feel there is enough fun and entertainment offered to compensate.

Grade: B-