Suicide Squad (2016)

Director: David Ayer

Starring: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margie Robbie, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis

A secret government agency recruits some of the most dangerous incarcerated super-villains to form a defensive task force. Their first mission: save the world from the apocalypse.

Just like ‘Justice League’ and ‘The Avengers’, ‘Suicide Squad’ has too many characters for one film. The result is not enough screen time for all of them, or some of them resorting to very little action even when they’re on screen.

We have Floyd/Deadshot – the world’s most wanted hitman. Harley Quinn – a psychiatrist from an asylum who fell in love with a lunatic, The Joker, who fried her mind (literally) leaving her crazy and fearless. Then there’s Digger/Captain Boomerang – a thief who has a knack with knifes and boomerangs. There’s pyrokinetic El Diablo. Waylon Jones/Killer Croc – a monster who looks like a crocodile. Archeologist June Moon, who became a witch, The Enchantress, who’s heart is kept in a box by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) from National Security. Oh, and then there’s still Rick Flag (Joel Kinnamon), June Moon’s boyfriend. Oh, and there’s room for one more: the sword wielding Katana, whose sword traps the souls of those she kills. And there’s still The Enchantress’ brother, Incubus… Phew, talk about too many characters for one movie! Makes your head spin!!

The premise is just as absurd as the characters. No matter how well they tried justifying using these creatures and villains to help humankind, nothing makes sense. This is a very ambitious project, but sadly fails on many levels. Basically, the film is about The Enchantress and Incubus trying to kill all humans, and the gang of weirdos are sent to save humanity. The CGI were good in parts, but also very bad at times – especially during the climax. I mean, what the hell were they thinking during the finale??! The Enchantress looks like Nicole Kidman dancing on a stage, with an elaborate costume blowing in the wind. (Wha-hahahahahahah!!!) What was all that CGI meant to be?

There are some good moments, some good action sequences, some funny dialogue, but in general the film just felt crowded. The Joker was never part of the Suicide Squad and only made an appearance now and again – mostly through Harley Quinn’s flashbacks. Ultimate there were just too much going on for one movie – too many villains and not even sure who the protagonists were, since most of them are bad guys anyway. Deadshot and Harley Quinn were given most of the screen time, as well as Rick Flag, so I suppose they’re the ultimate heroes – although, Harley was bad to the bone, so does it make her an antagonist because she’s bad, or a protagonist because she tried to help fight the evil? I’m confused…. At least the film had a great soundtrack. Ok, lets be fair also: there were some exciting action sequences, and for most parts it was entertaining – just not the finale…

‘Suicide Squad’ earned nearly $747 million on a $175 million budget. It received 57 award nominations, winning 17 including an Oscar for Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling.

Would I watch it again? I don’t think so.