Posted by A group of convicts band together to make up for their past sins… including the dreadful first instalment
It’s been two weeks since I’ve been to the cinema… I can’t work out whether it’s because I didn’t fancy the new movies on show or whether Space Jam 2 just caused me that much trauma that I needed extended time away from cinemas. Either way… I’m back!
Given the fact I have a week off I was able to watch a lunchtime showing of The Suicide Squad, meaning I was able to be fully alert at the peak of the day. Who’s to say a large popcorn for lunch isn’t part of a nutritious diet?
So, THE Suicide Squad begins in pretty much a similar fashion as the 2016 movie – Introducing a group of convicts forming a task-force to help the US government with an inadvertence. That’s pretty much where the similarities with the first instalment end. What follows is a funny, bloody movie that rightfully keeps things fairly simple with the plot. As the task-force make their way toward their goal, the team is cut down in size along the way in often hilarious manner.
James Gunn seems right at home with this movie. It is a ridiculous movie that quite frankly I love! As per Gunn’s previous Marvel movies, the soundtrack is spot on. Make no mistake though, this is not just a rehash of The Guardians of the Galaxy, this is as far away from a family friendly Marvel movie as you can get. Which brings me to the point that this is what DC have been missing so far. They’ve tried so hard to play catch up with Marvel they’ve missed out on what could be their own USP – fun superhero movies aimed at adults. If The Boys on Amazon is anything to go by, there’s an appetite for this. I do wonder if Marvel are kicking themselves allowing Gunn to make such a great movie for a direct competitor whilst Disney had their knickers in a twist over tweets made a decade or so ago. Just to clarify – I don’t agree with the nature of Gunn’s past tweets, I just think holding him against those tweets so many years later is a little harsh.
Back to The Suicide Squad, there’s just no point comparing this to anything Marvel has done. This isn’t a group of characters throwing in a few friendly quips here or there – they fully lay into each other, swearing at what seems every opportunity in between scenes of graphic blood and gore. Limbs quite literally go flying and bodies splatter all over the place.
It’s difficult to say much more without giving much away so spoilers ahead…
Talk about leading you in the wrong direction with that opening sequence! I had a feeling Captain Boomerang would bite the bullet early on, because why else would you bring back one of the weakest parts of the 2016 movie. However, I was certain Michael Rooker’s Savant would be one of the main cast members. The movie even starts by following him before he is quickly dispatched with a whole host of other characters in what is a distraction for the real team to infiltrate the island. Once again, the way the characters are killed is incredibly funny – if not a little on the sick side.
Actually, when I look at the posters for this movie it should have come as no surprise who the lead characters are. Leading the team, you have Idris Elba’s Bloodsport who is blackmailed into joining the group for the safety of his daughter. Bloodsport is described as an efficient killer raised by his father to find a way to use anything as a weapon… or something like that but better worded. The movie then introduces another character described in exactly the same way, John Cena’s Peacemaker. I described John Cena as a bit drab in the recent F9, however, here he is full of personality that brings plenty of laughs to the movie. Joel Kinnaman returns as Rick Flag, and I have to say I was surprised he too wasn’t killed off in the opening of the movie based on his previous appearance. I’m glad they didn’t kill him off (at least in the beginning) as he has a lot more on offer this time round. Daniela Melchior plays Ratcatcher 2, the heart of the team, able to control rats which proves more useful than expected. As attractive as she is, I could never go out with a girl whose close group of friends are rats – I know, I know, she’s just a fictional character… ah, who am I kidding, I have no standards!
Where was I? Oh yeah, King Shark is voiced by Sylvester Stallone, a strange character that is both innocent yet deadly depending on who he’s interacting with (and how hungry he is) while David Dastmalchian stars as Polka-Dot Man – another ridiculous character played very well with his fair share of mummy issues. The scenes depicting Polka-Dot Man seeing his mother in those around him often made me laugh. Finally, there’s the familiar Margot Robbie playing Harley Quinn doing what she does best. I enjoyed the bit where she escapes captivity – it’s shot well with the addition of colourful flowers and birds and hilarious due to the rest of the squad being on a mission to save her that ultimately wasn’t required. We know by now Harley Quinn isn’t a damsel in distress. Wow – that’s a lot of characters I’ve had to cram in a description for.
The climax of the film is suitably ludicrous. A giant star fish destroys the city whilst the surviving squad try and take it down. At times the gore does get a bit much though, I found myself wincing quite a bit. That shouldn’t come across as too much of a surprise to those that know me – I’m not the manly man others may assume I am *cough cough*.
The pace of the movie was just right. Usually when movies are over a couple of hours I tend to start getting a little on the tired side – but not the case here. Oh gosh, I think I’m getting old. Gone are the days where I would sit through a marathon of The Lord of the Rings extended edition trilogy. Maybe I don’t have the time (or the bladder) for it anymore?
Verdict
This movie is absolutely absurd. And I absolutely loved it. The right blend of action and humour which had me laughing throughout. James Gunn has done it again – he’s taken something that appeared risky on paper and created a movie that is just downright amazing on the screen.