While it had some good elements in place, the 2016 Suicide Squad film is my least favorite entry in the DC Extended Universe. As it turns out though, the film had as much of a troubled production as "Justice League" so that's another cut that needs fighting for (keep #releasetheayercut going). For what WB wanted to be their answer to "Guardians of the Galaxy", it seemed they tried too hard to make that happen. When it came to the sequel, they were able to get that Guardians magic from the source by signing James Gunn on as director during his brief break-up from Marvel. With free reign on "The Suicide Squad", Gunn has brought his creative insanity to DC and gives what is surely one of the best and funniest films in this universe.
To be blunt, "The Suicide Squad" is everything WB wanted the first film to be while at the same time being its antithesis. The first film had a dark aesthetic that made some of the over the top elements feel out of place. Gunn's film however is able to find the right balance, popping with color like a comic book and features action that is as bloody and gory as you'd expect from a film about a clandestine supervillain team, some of whom are not shy about how demented they are. Each character feels vital to the story (for better or worse) and the CGI use for the main villain looks much more believable than before, and that's really saying something considering it's giant freaking alien starfish this time around. It really plays into the air of weirdness this film brings that's much akin to "Doom Patrol."
Something interesting is that from the beginning of the film, they make it clear that Task Force X has been at work even after the events of the first film with rotating members. There's even secret dead pools between those who work at the command center. And on that note, one of the taglines for the movie was "Don't get too attached." That is definitely accurate and is part of the film's way of subverting expectations. You know some characters are going to die, but you shouldn't base your guess on the popularity of a character or an actor. There will definitely be moments where you'll be like Randy Marsh on Black Friday.
Like the first movie, I do have some analysis on a few characters.
* Viola Davis' return as Amanda Waller is a reminder of just how scary her character can be. While not technically a villain, it's not hyperbole to say she is the most evil character in the film.
* Viola Davis' return as Amanda Waller is a reminder of just how scary her character can be. While not technically a villain, it's not hyperbole to say she is the most evil character in the film.
* I really enjoy Joel Kinnaman's portrayal as Rick Flag this time around, coming off more as a natural and likable character. Development wise, I think he's learned a lot from the first time in terms of trust and respect towards those on the Squad; he's even willing to put the mission on the line to save Harley. Speaking of which...
* What else can be said about Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn? She once again turns in a funny and badass performance. At this point, Harley is shown to be much more independent, having finally let go of her relationship with the Joker. Despite her peace of mind though, there are two pretty awesome moments in the film that show just how damaged and deadly she truly is.
* Idris Elba brings his A-game as Bloodsport, who is essentially our lead character of the film. Reportedly, Elba was originally set to replace Will Smith as Deadshot due to Smith's unavailability but was later swapped out for Bloodsport in the event Smith was able to return for a future film. With that in mind, throw in a few rewrites and it's very easy to see Deadshot fitting in this film. Putting that aside though, Bloodsport is a pretty good character. I like how he acts as a father figure to Ratcatcher (played by Daniela Melchior) and his rivalry with Peacemaker (played by John Cena). In regards to the latter, it's really interesting how similar they are in terms of their proficiency at killing but their motivations are completely different. Bloodsport is a mercenary who kills for the money while Peacemaker does it out of enjoyment and a warped sense of freedom; I really got a sense the comparisons between the two is commentary on race and privilege.
* What else can be said about Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn? She once again turns in a funny and badass performance. At this point, Harley is shown to be much more independent, having finally let go of her relationship with the Joker. Despite her peace of mind though, there are two pretty awesome moments in the film that show just how damaged and deadly she truly is.
* Idris Elba brings his A-game as Bloodsport, who is essentially our lead character of the film. Reportedly, Elba was originally set to replace Will Smith as Deadshot due to Smith's unavailability but was later swapped out for Bloodsport in the event Smith was able to return for a future film. With that in mind, throw in a few rewrites and it's very easy to see Deadshot fitting in this film. Putting that aside though, Bloodsport is a pretty good character. I like how he acts as a father figure to Ratcatcher (played by Daniela Melchior) and his rivalry with Peacemaker (played by John Cena). In regards to the latter, it's really interesting how similar they are in terms of their proficiency at killing but their motivations are completely different. Bloodsport is a mercenary who kills for the money while Peacemaker does it out of enjoyment and a warped sense of freedom; I really got a sense the comparisons between the two is commentary on race and privilege.
* King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone) is kind of like Groot, but with a slightly higher vocabulary and much more carnivorous.
* As a Doctor Who fan, I really enjoyed seeing Peter Capaldi as the Thinker. Much like David Tenant as Kilgrave in "Jessica Jones", there's something quite fun about seeing a former Doctor bringing their flare to a more villainous role; though to be honest, it was very believable to see Capaldi break bad by comparison.
Overall, "The Suicide Squad" is freaking awesome and freaking nuts with fun characters and fun action. It's both a case for how much a project can benefit when an artist is allowed to create without interference and a prime example of a film worth going back safely to the theater for.
My DC Extended Universe Film Rankings:
2. The Suicide Squad
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