The Suicide Squad (2021)

 

If you put James Gunn in the director's chair, be ready for anything. 

Amanda Waller brings Task Force X back in action with the live action sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad in The Suicide Squad. (Yeah, that's not confusing...)

This time, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang and Rick Flagg are paired with an even more rag-tag group of super villains in order to restore democracy to a tiny island nation. A small junta that just happens to have it's hands on a super weapon capable of global destruction.

Once more, Margot Robbie is perfect as Harley Quinn. It's just a rotten shame that after 3 live action films now, they still can't find the right vehicle for her! 

The Suicide Squad was a total gore fest. Heads explode! Bodies get ripped to shreds. And limbs go flying- literally. Add to it an Elizabeth Warren level of liberal amount of F-bombs and a bunch of dick jokes, and the occasional trip to the toilet and you've get a glimpse what Guardians of the Galaxy might have been like if it wasn't a Disney venture. 

There's so many twists and red herrings that to go too much further into the plot would result in massive spoilers. So let's just focus on the tone of the film. It's R-rated. So, parents- don't take your kids to this expecting a family friendly film. 

And let's talk about DC Movies in general. When it comes to the comic books, DC is more lighthearted compared to Marvel. And I love that! I think DC having so many fictitious American cities like Gotham and Metropolis; instead of occurring in gritty Manhattan or L.A., gives DC Comics stories a tone of fantasy even when things are it's most darkest. When it comes to TV shows and cartoons, Warner Bros. captures that whimsy perfectly. But for some reason, when it comes to the big screen, Warner just insists in exploring the heart of darkness!

Could it be that since Warner Bros. doesn't cow-tow it's fan base like Disney does, that DC movies will keep pushing an envelope that nobody asked for? Think about Deadpool. It's probably the most dark toned Disney film in both sense of humor and seriousness. Yet for a character without any boundaries, the Merc with a Mouth was pretty much put in a box. It's a large box. But a container none-the-less!

With The Suicide Squad, maybe there was a box. But it was ripped to shreds. And then crapped on. A lot. Yes- there were some funny moments. Like when Task Force X interrogates mad-scientist, The Thinker, played by former Time Lord, Peter Capaldi. But for the most part, it doesn't feel like a DC Comics venture. This film is definitely a James Gunn venture and it reflects his time at Troma Films. 

Wait! That's it!!! This movie was like if  Lloyd Kaufman was able to secure the rights to a Task Force X movie and then made it like it was set in the Toxic Avenger universe! Maybe if they threw Toxie and Sgt. Kabukiman into the cells of Belle Reve along with King Shark and Polka Dot Man, I would have liked this film more. Instead, I'm left shaking my head. 

And putting all your chips behind John Cena's Peacemaker for the next HBOMax DC project?! Yuck! The character is completely unlikable. Which is weird, since I like John Cena. 

I also like DC Comics. No- I LOVE DC Comics! But when it comes to live-action super hero projects that I am most looking forward to in the next 12 months or so- most of my top-10 list is Marvel stuff. Warner Bros. went back to the drawing board with this movie. I wonder what projects were left on the blackboard, considered B-level stuff...

God Help Us All.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.