I just watched The Suicide Squad, which is the latest entry in the DC Extended Universe. A soft reboot of the 2016 film, The Suicide Squad centers around the titular team of criminals as they embark on a mission to the island Corto Maltese to destroy a secret facility that is home to a project that could destroy America.
DC’s films have disappointed me, especially Suicide Squad (2016). But because the trailers looked promising, and I’m a James Gunn fan, I decided to give The Suicide Squad a chance. Not only did this movie pleasantly surprise me, but it’s also the best movie that the DCEU has released thus far.
Partial spoiler alert.
Without a doubt, the best part of The Suicide Squad is the characters. The film features plenty of big names, but this movie spends time organically developing their backstories.
The actors also have excellent chemistry with each other, it’s clear that they’re genuinely enjoying their roles. Idris Elba and Daniela Melchior in particular have an excellent dynamic – Melchoir’s upbeat Ratcatcher plays well with Elba’s jaded Bloodsport.
Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn is definitely a highlight of the film as well. At this point, she’s mainly a force of chaos, which contrasts extremely well with the more serious characters, like Colonel Flag (Joel Kinnaman) and keeps the movie fun.
Comic book movies are best when they embrace their fun, goofy, downright weird side, and on that front, this film delivers in both presentation and plot. The movie features everything from a giant starfish to a man who can detach his arms and control them from a distance. It’s absolutely ridiculous but extremely self-aware, which makes the film that much more fun to watch.
Most importantly, The Suicide Squad is generally well-paced.
Unlike the 2016 film, which lacks organization, this film follows a smooth, three-act structure. The plot itself is fairly straightforward, but it still allows for the characters to each show off their abilities and develop their relationships. The movie’s plot line is ultimately why this movie works.
But even though The Suicide Squad is fantastic overall, it isn’t perfect. Some of the film’s humor can sometimes distract from the actual movie, some scenes cause it to drag a bit, and John Cena’s Peacemaker feels out of place. If the movie focused a bit less on theatrics and a bit more on keeping a natural progression, it would be a masterpiece. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad a solid 8. The Suicide Squad isn’t just a fun, goofy summer movie; it’s also far easier to watch than its predecessor. If you watch The Suicide Squad, you’ll laugh plenty and will definitely look forward to the next DCEU movie!
Featured Photo via Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
