Suicide Squad

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Suicide Squad
Released 8/5/16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

In this latest year of current superhero madness, Warner Brothers/DC releases its latest chapter of its fledgling cinematic universe.  It hasn't been the year the entertainment mogul expected so far has it?  They, along with many probably anticipated riding into August on a huge wave of success after Dawn of Justice was released in April.  Sadly, that didn't happen.  We all know reaction to that film was...mixed to say the least.  While it did make money, it wasn't the bank breaking raucous success WB/DC hoped it would be. 

So, now we're in August, and, while I don't believe WB/DC is pinning their final hope on the release of Suicide Squad, the release has become increasingly more important than it would have been given different circumstances.  So, can the DC Cinematic Universe find its footing with a film featuring characters that are primarily from their B-list and below?

What is the Suicide Squad?  Following the events of Dawn of Justice (namely, the death of Superman), the U.S. government begins pondering what would happen if the next Superman or metahuman in general were to become a terrorist.  Enter ruthless government intelligence agent, Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) who just might have a solution.  Fight metahumans with your own group of metahumans.  In this case, criminals that can be disavowed by the government if the mission turns sideways.

To that end, Waller has been manipulating events to organize her own specialized gang of misfits  .  For the two most prominent ne'er-do-wells, she fortuitously receives the aid of a familiar vigilante in Gotham City.  Floyd Lawton (Will Smith), better known as the master assassin, Deadshot, surrenders to the Dark Knight (Ben Affleck) for the sake of his daughter.  The second capture might actually be the most dangerous recruit of all.  Harleen "Harley" Quinzel (Margot Robbie), former psychiatrist and current psychotic girlfriend to her "puddin'", the equally psychotic Gotham gangster, Joker (Jared Leto).   Both Deadshot and Quinn are incarcerated to Belle Reve Penitentiary where they are regularly abused by guards.   It's there Waller recruits them along with fellow prisoners, pyrokinetic El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), monstrous cannibal Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), and opportunistic thief Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney).  She places them under the command of Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), a no-nonsense Special Forces soldier.  To keep the team in line, Waller orders small explosive devices to be implanted in each member's neck.

The team doesn't have much time to relax in their cells as they are called on for their first mission.  Another of Waller's recruits (and Flag's girlfriend), Dr. June Moon (Carla Delevingne), has gone A.W.O.L.  The good doctor isn't someone who can just be ignored.  Another being inhabits her body, a powerful witch-goddess known as the Enchantress.  The Enchantress has gained control  and is on a mission to eradicate mankind with the help of her equally powerful brother, Incubus.  Flag, the Squad, a team of SEALS, and Flag's personal bodyguard, Katana (Karen Fukuhara) set out to Midway City where the Enchantress has taken refuge knowing full well this could be the last hurrah for all of them.  If that's not bad enough, the Joker has learned the location of his Harley.  And, he wants her back!

Let me say this about Suicide Squad.  I enjoyed the first half of it very much.  It had intrigue as you learn how ruthless and manipulative Amanda Waller really is.  The flashback sequences were fun as you came to discover how the Squad's members came to be at Belle Reve.  The few scenes featuring "Batfleck" were exciting.  It was humorous watching Harley be a looney toon.  Will Smith exuded the cool charisma we saw in his earlier days.  I had a big smile on my face as Flag ran down for the group how he would hit their kill switches if they "vexed" him in any way. 

The second half of the film involving  the team landing in Midway City and taking on the Enchantress I found far less intriguing.  For one, I thought the Enchantress and her brother were rather weak villains.  I tried, but, I just never felt the sense that all were in life threatening danger.  From the Joker?  Yes.  But, that's a problem.  He wasn't the main antagonist.  The Enchantress's converted human foot soldiers?  They were more unremarkable "bowling pins" than the Chitauri from the first Avengers movie.

 While we're on the subject, let's talk about the Joker.  Jared Leto's Joker is psychotic enough, I didn't question that.  I'm just not sure I'm completely on board with "gangsta'" Joker though.  The grill, the tattoos, and the bling just seemed odd and didn't feel like it completely fit my idea of this character.  It was weird for me.  It's a take on the character that I'll need to get used to.  The Joker doesn't necessarily have "people."  Well, not people he doesn't plan to kill later on.  I also think his character would have been more effective if kept to even more limited use than the way he was used here.  Like Batman, I would have preferred to see him more in flashback and, then, at the very end making a grand reappearance.  The Joker story running parallel to the main one felt a little crowded and unnecessary at times.  The Squad should have been the stars.  It's almost as if the powers that be didn't trust them to be that. 

Robbie's Harley Quinn was the most interesting character in the film.  Mercurial, goofy, and deadly, she was the best member of the group.  The remainder of the cast was competent, if unremarkable (with the exception of Waller and, at times, Flag).  Even Will Smith wasn't truly notable.  The setup of his character was excellent, but, later in the film it felt like he was just flexing threateningly at everyone.  It was a completely empty gesture when you figure Flag could have just blown his head off with the touch of a button.

The placement of this film in the DC Cinematic Universe feels a bit odd as well.  Their flagpole superteam isn't on solid footing as of yet.  And therein lies the issue with the DCCU in the first place.  Things just feel rushed and out of sequence.  It wouldn't be as noticeable if the three features so far were great.  Suicide Squad is primarily the B list and below of DC characters with one or two possible exceptions.  Was this the best time to introduce them when the perception of your cinematic efforts  outside of diehard fans isn't completely favorable?  It should make its fair share of money opening weekend, but, is anyone going to think about non-Justice League characters outside of that timeframe?  I guess time will tell.  But, DC just feels disjointed.  I'm going to bring up the dirty "M" word  right now.  But, you didn't have Guardians of the Galaxy or Ant-Man before The Avengers were a household name.  Marvel had a cohesive plan since the release of Iron Man.  DC seems like they're just throwing ideas against the wall and seeing what sticks. 

Before anyone thinks I'm being a fountain of negativity, I liked Suicide Squad.  There are decent action sequences, a notable first half, and pretty good soundtrack of recognizable songs that's on par with Guardians of the Galaxy.  But, I wasn't blown away.  Maybe I've been spoiled by Marvel Studios in recent years, but, I'm looking for excellence on the DC end of things, too.  I'm waiting to be mind blown, and, not just by individual parts or halves of films.  I want something from WB/DC that's top to bottom memorable.  We haven't gotten there yet.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***1/4 stars

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Worth a look.  Better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. I'm doing my happy dance!
5 *= Pure eye candy. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good