DC's The Suicide Squad - Theatrical Review

Gunn got his start in the chaotic B-movie world of Troma but then transitioned to comedy, horror, and drama later with some exceptional films. He became a household name when he took on Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel, which shot him to superstardom and gave the world some weird characters that everyone came to love immediately. Movie fans also realized how precise and pitch-perfect Gunn was able to write a screenplay with so many characters that gave each and every role their time to shine, make some laugh or cry and feel important. It's a difficult element to conquer, but Gunn has proved more than once that he's one of the best in the business. So when he became available, DC and Warner brought him aboard and gave him mostly free reign to make his own film with The Suicide Squad. 

Some of the same characters show up from the first Suicide Squad, including the iconic Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg, and Jai Courtney as Boomerang. But then Gunn invites a band of misfits who create one of the most fun teams on the big screen to join the veterans for this suicide mission. Amanda Waller has tasked a group of villains who are being held in prison to team up and destroy an ultimate threat at a Nazi-era compound, which seems like an impossible mission. Housed inside this compound is a weapon of epic proportions capable of destroying cities with ease. 

Joining the already established brilliant cast are T.D.K (The Detachable Kid, played by Nathan Fillion),  King Shark (a walking, talking man-eating shark voiced by Sylvester Stallone), Bloodsport (Idris Elba as a badass mercenary), Ratcatcher 2 (played by Daniela Melchior who can communicate and control rats), Weasel (an actual giant kid-eating weasel with motion capture of Sean Gunn), and Polka Dot Man (perhaps the dumbest DC character ever printed, played by David Dastmalchian). Then of course there is Peacemaker (John Cena), who will achieve peace at any cost, no matter how much violence ensues. There are a few other characters all played by big-name stars including Peter Capaldi, Pete Davidson, and even Taika Waititi, where each and every role is given their time to be the star of the screen. 

And that's what makes The Suicide Squad succeed. Gunn has challenged himself to take some of the smallest and perhaps dumbest characters in comics and give them the heart, soul, and backbone of the emotional strings that make this film so good. No part is too small in a James Gunn script and he allows every character to be fully developed over the course of the 132-minute run time that forms a bond with its audience, even if a character is only on screen for a couple of sequences. He did this perfectly in the first two Guardians Of The Galaxy films, and he does it here flawlessly with a lot more blood, carnage, and chaotic fun. 

Seeing his script weave in and out of every character as Harley Quinn continues to reveal her sincere and sinister side in a matter of seconds is still remarkable. Idris Elba isn't only a strong fighting machine, but he also has a fantastic dry comedic side that just kills in every sequence. Then there is John Cena who steals every sequence in the film he's in. No further information will be given to how great his character actually is, but let it be known, it's so good that his own series was greenlit that should be hitting HBOMax in early 2022. Every other character is just as great. The action sequences are fantastic if not similar to every other big superhero film out there. What's different here is how much fun and the number of emotional stakes that are in this film at any given time. It goes a long way and makes the movie matter. 

Even seeing Harley Quinn on screen a few times now, there are still new elements to her character and struggles that are brought out that haven't been mentioned before, which is a breath of fresh air. Tackling big social issues throughout the film conjures up those sympathetic plights towards each character that make them seem real and relatable, and not just another superhero in a cape. With that aspect though comes quite a few flashbacks into each character, which can break up the natural flow of this action-packed movie. It doesn't last long, due to the hilarious dialogue and action scenes, but at times, the movie feels a little too long. But if that's the only complaint, The Suicide Squad isn't doing really anything wrong here. 

Gunn brought his Guardians of the Galaxy 2 cinematographer along for the ride here, bringing these characters and settings to life, which looks amazing from start to finish. It all looks like an older war film but is set in the present day. John Murphy's score is fantastic and serves to enhance all of the emotional and entertaining moments of the film, along with some good music cues. The Suicide Squad is the team everyone should want to be a part of and is the most fun DCEU film out there to date. Keep them coming, Gunn. Don't leave during the credits either there are two stingers for your enjoyment. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

Catch The Suicide Squad on HBOMax or Get Your Tickets At Fandango!