THE SUICIDE SQUAD serves up a fresh, bloody plate of fun
THE SUICIDE SQUAD serves up a fresh, bloody plate of fun
James Gunn takes the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY style and turns up the volume 20 notches in this summer blast.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD is not a sequel. It’s not exactly a follow-up. Frankly, it’s just its own thing, and that helps make James Gunn’s full-blown R-rated film on DC’s best antiheroes just a thrilling ride of laughs, action, fun, and … adorableness?
For a reminder, this movie exists because Gunn was briefly fired by Disney for controversial tweets, with Warner Bros. quickly hiring the director of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and its sequel (Disney has since rehired Gunn). His GUARDIANS films were bright, full of amazing music choices, and featuring incredibly likable characters from the most obscure parts of Marvel Comics, so bringing that to the table for another ensemble film was a recipe for success.
The catch this time? Gunn discarded the PG-13 restraints of the family-friendly Disney and unleashed a full-blown hard R movie of blood, guts, gore, violence, and everything in between, something only DEADPOOL and LOGAN had previously done. Both were resounding successes. Now, add THE SUICIDE SQUAD to that shortlist.
First, just forget everything from the 2016 SUICIDE SQUAD film. The first scene of the 2021 hit helps with that, establishing off the bat what kind of two hours this will be: all hell will break loose, no character is safe, and the tone is light in the severity of the situations and heavy in the brutal action. Nowhere in sight to dampen the mood is Jared Leto’s Joker or Cara Delevigne’s … whoever she played, unforgettably. Every single protagonist upgrades the energy here, and even an antagonist or two helps the mood. Even Joel Kinnaman is much, much better as Rick Flag, though I attribute the previous go-around to directing.
Idris Elba delivered as Bloodsport effortlessly. He’s too cool, man. His moves were slick. The wit and banter flowed with everyone, especially against John Cena’s Peacemaker. I can’t compare him to a GUARDIANS character, but he pops on the screen unlike anyone from Gunn’s first two superhero films.
Where GUARDIANS connects to THE SUICIDE SQUAD is establishing an incredibly unexpected heart of the film. Daniela Melchior’s Ratcatcher 2 is the emotional core of this film; yes, a woman whose power is summoning rats from sewers. She and a tree can somehow move an audience to feel something, and I’d of course attribute more to Melchior, a Portuguese actress who had a minor role in SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE. As the movie rolled on, she stole scenes or more than held her own alongside Elba. I want to see more of Melchior in movies, and being 24 years old, she has a bright future.
Oh, Margot Robbie is here, too. Guess what? She’s terrific and more humorous than ever. Shocking. This is her best outing as Harley Quinn, as well, after a fun introduction in SUICIDE SQUAD and some questionable directorial directions in BIRDS OF PREY. While Robbie doesn’t dominate the screen like her previous turns, she’s all over the scene whenever and wherever she appears.
This group, among others, ventures into a surprisingly political film. Attribute that to the times we’re in, much like any other era of movies since they usually represent the times they release in. No, this isn’t the most politically deep of cinematic experiences you’ll see, but government conspiracies and military coups are still focused on.
The political plot is as detailed as you’d expect in an action film, which is just enough, but the villains are paper thin. They’re essentially nameless and faceless, but Starro—oh, yes, Starro—is the ultimate absurdist villain that puts the cherry on top of how ridiculously entertaining this movie is and how it’s not asking you to take it seriously, but to embrace its weirdness. I loved it even more for that and pushed aside the “meh” villains.
The jokes and proper comedic timing from the start create that willingness to appreciate the wackiness. Some jokes don’t land in the second half of the film, but a hilarious first 45-60 minutes delivers on the banter between Cena and Elba, moments of what should be “serious” gore, and the questioning of why someone shoots polka-dots from their hands.
There’s also a talking shark played by Sylvester Stallone.
It’s not a James Gunn production without a dynamite soundtrack, either. You’ll be serenaded by the likes of The Pixies, Steeley Dan, Johnny Cash, George Harrison, and much more. Topping the GUARDIANS music is a tall task, but no one’s asking for one to outdo the other, because the tracks in THE SUICIDE SQUAD are catchy and probably on your iPhone playlist already if you’ve seen the movie.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD is a blast. It’s too early to call it one of my favorite comic book movies, which I did with SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, only to return to it and feel slightly lesser about it. I’ll return to this movie soon since it’s on HBO Max and feel it out. Either way, I had a blast with this. I laughed a lot. I was moved at times. I was on the edge of my seat anticipating what’s next due to it being the furthest thing from formulaic. Just so much fun.
Disney, it’s your turn: where’s the R-rated cut of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3?