Suicide Squad would be better if it didn’t reek of desperation

Suicide Squad, a candy-colored tale of supervillains saving Gotham, is the latest “metahuman” adventure brought to you by the world of DC Comics. After the abysmal performance of Batman v. Superman earlier this summer, a lot is riding on Suicide Squad for DC. But this ramshackle exploitation flick clearly was never meant to be a tentpole. Slapdash, uneven, and unintentionally silly, the movie is a cynical froth of dumb cliches. Which is no surprise, given the studio’s last-minute editing to punch up the pace and humor. All that said, I’m not going to lie. It was still kind of fun.

The main problem with Suicide Squad comes down to one, basic error. It has the premise of a cheap exploitation movie, with the production and marketing budget of a blockbuster. Set in the days after Superman’s supposed death in Batman v. Superman, it’s about a world that is so bereft of hope and so politically cynical that the government is willing to use criminal supervillains to fight “terrorists.” Viola Davis is incredible as Amanda Waller, a heartless covert ops manager who puts together the “suicide squad” out of the jail/sewer where Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), and various other baddies are kept. A frenetic opening sequence introduces us to our band of bad guys, whose superpowers include things like “shoots well,” “sexy in shorts,” “secretly an Aztec god,” “weird teeth,” and “climbs fast.” If Robert Rodriguez were directing this in a condemned nightclub, I would be all in. It’s the perfect premise for a bloody, sexy, fire-soaked brawl.

I don’t think the deserved the harsh reviews it’s gotten — like this review. I’m not saying the movie is without flaws but much of this review provides little examples to match all the negativity.

One critic said that half the movie was flashbacks that were dumbed down. Maybe a quarter of the movie took place in the past which I kind of expected since the movie introduced characters not widely known to the film goers. Some critics even write reviews like they’ve never seen another comic book movie. Ever. This wasn’t meant to be Shawshank Redemption or the Green Mile.

And I was happy that Harley Quinn didn’t have a part really bigger than anyone else. Maggie and I both went and that did have me nervous going in. I was worried that most of the movie would be her asscheeks hanging out.

The only real complaint that I had was that Killer Croc was like regular man size. They should’ve made him bigger, wider shoulders, scarier. He also talked as if he were a dumb black guy from the south, an Uncle Tom. His character I liked the least.

And the final climax was a little corny but still passable. So many movies don’t want you leaving more. It’s more along the lines of I’ve had enough of this for awhile.

#movies #suicidesquad