Saturday, July 31, 2021

My Review of The Suicide Squad (2021) - SPOILERS INCLUDED

 


Written And Directed by James Gunn

Bloodsport: "We're all gonna die."
Polka Dot Man: "I hope so."
Bloodsport: "Oh for fuck sake."

The fact that we have a sequel to this band of baddies but not the biggest superhero group in DC comics for the DCEU certainly will go as one of the strangest things to happen in a movie franchise but here we are.

If you're familiar with the first movie, you'll know the drill with this loosely based sequel. Government agent Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) has assigned Task Force X for another dangerous mission and this time, two groups are needed for this particular task.

The first group to land in the mystery of Jotunheim for the mission Project Starfish include returning members Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Boomerang (Jai Courtney). This time around they're joined by Savant (Michael Rooker), TDK (Nathan Gillion), Blackguard (Pete Davidson), Weasel (Sean Gunn), Javellin (Flula Borg) and Mongal (Mayling Ng).

It doesn't take long for the majority of the first group to get annihilated, following a team member's betrayal and some of the deaths in question really do take advantage of the R rating of this movie. Of course, Amanda Waller is smart enough to have a second group.

The second group comprising of Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Polka Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone) and Peacemaker (John Cena) are somewhat more success in a few aspects.

As characters they're largely explored in more detail as well as united fairly quickly with Flag and Harley and its largely this group who enlist the unwilling help of mad scientist and metahuman, the Thinker (Peter Capaldi) in order to take out villain of the piece, Starro (Taika Waititi). 

Starro as a villain definitely is a success. The CGI looks perfect, the character feels genuinely intimidating, the effects of its victims are sold perfectly and the group effort in order to defeat it works perfectly. 

Of course there are other villains. The Thinker is suitably repugnant as was the dictator General Luna (Juan Diego Botto) and right man Mateo (Joaquin Cosia). Not to mention, Waller's own motives about Project Starfish and the depths Peacemaker will go to for his aims as well.

In terms of characters, the highlights of course for me were Harley, Ratcatcher 2 and her adorable pet rat, Sebastian, Polka Dot Man, King Shark and Bloodsport. Those five stood out the most and the ones that I'm glad made it out of the movie alive. Flag showed improvement but Waller not as much and I hate to admit it but Peacemaker did grate at times. Hopefully his spin off will even the character out.

- Sean Gunn, Steve Agee and Taika Waititi all got to play more than one role each in this movie. I did not care for Gunn's take on Calender Man.
- Harley's look in this movie is without a doubt the best look she's had in the DCEU so far and the most comic accurate.
- Mid Credit scene: Weasel actually survived the events of the first attack. Odd choice of character to keep alive.
- Post Credit scene: Waller's aides Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and John Economos (Steve Agee) found themselves tasked with a comatose Peacemaker, setting up the latter's spin off for HBO Max.
- Standout music: grandson's Oh No and Rain (with Jessie Reyes), Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues and Jim Carroll Band's People Who Died.
- Chronology: Not really specified to be honest but I'm going to assume the present day. 

The Suicide Squad is definitely a crazy romp. James Gunn definitely used the fact that he was unrestrained in what he could do to his utmost advantage and there's plenty of crazy shit that happens here. Not everything works but the majority of it does and its safe to say that Gunn will have a long future in the DC universe after this movie.

Rating: 7 out of 10

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