“Suicide Squad” marks DC’s third installment to its cinematic universe and the film brings a level of fun that’s been missing from the previous efforts.
With all the superhero outings we’ve been exposed to this year, it’s not nearly as much fun as “Deadpool,” but it is better than “Batman v Superman.”
The movie takes villains from DC’s universe and puts them together for a kind of “Dirty Dozen”-esque mission. Will Smith stars as Deadshot, an expert marksman; Margot Robbie is Harley Quinn, a former psychiatrist who goes crazy at the hands of a certain psychotic Clown Prince of Crime; Jay Hernandez is Diablo who has the ability to shoot flames out of his hands; Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is Killer Croc, a half-man, half-crocodile who eats people and Jai Courtney is Captain Boomerang, an Australian criminal.
They are brought together for a special mission by a government official named Amanda Waller (Viola Davis). Their reward is that they will get 10 years off their prison sentences if the mission succeeds. If they fail, they die. Joel Kinnaman costars as their leader, who takes no guff from them.
Their mission is to stop a supernatural creature known as the Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) who’s bent on (what else?) destroying the world. Not to give anything away, but during the climax when the squad and the Enchantress collide, it reminded me of the finale of “Ghostbusters,” but on steroids.
While all this is happening, the Joker (Jared Leto) is busy with his own agenda, but it’s never quite explained why he’s there or his part in the plot. Even with that, Leto’s performance is creepy, menacing and charismatic, but the late Heath Ledger has nothing to worry about.
There’s a perfectly entertaining movie here and I wish writer/director David Ayer would’ve taken time to develop his characters further. When the backstories are provided, we’re bombarded with relentlessly-pounding iconic songs and leaving the characters’ motivations sketchy, at best. During those times, it often bounces like an overextended music video.
Having some gripes, I am recommending “Suicide Squad” all the same, because there is some good stuff in it, especially for the hardcore DC fans who will be thrilled at some occasional Easter eggs, as well as hints of how DC plans to continue to extend its universe.
It doesn’t end the summer movie season the way people hope it will, but it can be a lot of fun.
Grade: B+
Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content, and language.
Hall is a syndicated columnist in South Georgia.