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The Suicide Squad 2021


After DC attempted their first Suicide Squad film in 2016 and it turned out an abysmal failure, they went ahead and gave it another shot in the hands of James Gunn, between his firing and re-hiring from Disney. This new outing is a vast improvement, though the bar was set so low from the '16 film that it wouldn't be hard to top it. However, in the hands of Gunn, he brings back the fun that was sorely lacking from the previous entry. But don't be mistaken; this is NOT PG-13, Marvel style family entertainment. This new chapter very much earns it's R rating, as the story is filled with plenty of bloodshed, violence and dark humor. The film plays like a psychotic version of The A Team for adults, and the formula works.






Returning cast members include Margo Robbie as Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang. The rest of the cast includes John Cena (Peacemaker), Idris Elba (Bloodsport), Michael Rooker (Savant), Nathan Fillion (T.D.K.), Pete Davidson (Blackguard), Sylvester Stallone (Nanaue/King Shark), Flula Borg (Javelin), David Dastmalchian (Polka Dot Man), Sean Gunn (Weasel), and Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2. The plot revolved around Amanda Waller creating her Taskforce X made up of high profile criminals and metahumans and sending them on a mission to the South American Island of Corto Maltese where their government has been overthrown by an Anti-American regime. They are tasked with destroying a top secret facility that houses a secret experiment known as "Project Starfish". Each individual is picked for their unique skillset; expert marksmen, the ability to control rats, the ability to shoot polka dots at enemies, a walking humanoid shark that eats humans, athletes, fighters, etc. It's a very simple, straight-forward storyline. But Gunn does wonders with it, filling it with surprises, twists, violence, dark humor and even a few touching moments. 








The one thing that helps is that each of the main characters are given enough time in the spotlight that they all shine equally. Robbie once again does a wonderful job as Harley Quinn, making her sympathetic but crazy and unpredictable. Cena, Elba and Kinnaman give us the tough action hero person we've come to expect from them, but the surprising standouts are Polka Dot Man, Ratcatcher 2 and King Shark. These 3 end up being extremely sympathetic and likeable, especially Melchior as the one who can command the rats. She's the beating heart of the group and is wonderfully fleshed out by the actress. Viola Davis, meanwhile, really sinks her teeth into the role of Amanda Waller. She was one of the standouts of the 2016 film, with her mean and cold persona, and here, she's even more evil. 







James Gunn took one of Marvel's lesser known properties, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and created magic in 2014, and did it again with the sequel. His Midas touch strikes gold once more with his handling of DC's Suicide Squad. The focus on humor, heart and likeable characters shines through once again. But this time, Gunn adds a lot of violence. There are some wonderfully funny, graphic kills throughout the film, including stabbings, heart piercings, throat slashings, broken limbs, bodies that explode and/or are ripped to shreds. It's a fast-paced, gleeful ride of insanity, leading to a wild climax that will make the kaiju fan in you cheer. Yes, it even throws in giant creature action, but if you've seen the trailer, you already know that. I'll admit, when its trailer first dropped, it didn't wow me too much. I thought it looked rather silly and would try too hard to be fun and cool. The end result turned out much better than I had anticipated. After last year's disappointing Wonder Woman 84, I'm happy to see that DC's isn't afraid to take risks and deliver an entertaining, solid film. The Suicide Squad is a highly enjoyable adventure.




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