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THE SUICIDE SQUAD – Review – We Are Movie Geeks

Review

THE SUICIDE SQUAD – Review

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As we enter the final weeks of Summer, the multiplex presents a new entry in the film adaptations of the (as they used to say in their comic books) “Distinguished Competition” to Marvel (sounds nicer than their other label, “Brand Ecchh”). Yes, the MCU made its return to the cinemas several weeks ago with BLACK WIDOW, which continues on the smaller screens (and its behind-the-scenes” conflicts are played out in the entertainment news venues), so it was only a matter of time before Warners shot back with a film based on its DC properties. And yes, it’s a sequel, with several characters from the 2016 original coming back, but it’s also kind-of-a-reboot since one of the Marvel “guiding lights” has “jumped the fence” to serve up a new take on the “high-concept” “revolving door” comic series. Perhaps that’s why the title sports a “proper article’ rather than a number two (or II). So. let’s strap in for a new movie mission for the misfits known as THE SUICIDE SQUAD.

So, did you need to see the David Ayers-directed original before viewing this? Not really, as the film begins with a zippy retelling of its basic premise. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) , the head of a “hush-hush” deep underground government agency is still “recruiting” imprisoned”super-villains” for clandestine projects. She explains to the “newbie”, that a microchip will be planted at the base of his skull, and if he deviates from the “errand”, like say trying to run away, she’ll press a button at the monitoring center and the chip will explode his noggin. But if all goes well, he’ll be released from jail. Soon we’re onboard a stealth flying craft as several agents jump into the dark murky ocean waters off the coast of a South American island nation known as “Corto Maltese”. And though several SS vets are there, including military liason Col. Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman) and the Joker’s ex Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), things go “sideways” and those two are scooped up in the surrounding jungle. Luckily there’s another crew on a deserted nearby beach. Their releuctant leader is the skilled super-assassin “Bloodsport” (Idris Elba), who’s only there because Waller threated his teen daughter with an “adult’ prison sentence. But also claiming to be the “boss” is the stubborn and deadly vigilante known as “The Peacemaker” (John Cena). Either way, they’ve got to keep tabs on the others: “Ratcatcher 2” (Daniela Melchoir) who can command the rodents, “Polka-Dot Man” (David Dastmalchian), a twitched guy with extreme “mother issues” who shoots destructibe multi-colored “balls” from his body, and “King Shark” (voice of Slyvester Stallone), a powerful hulking man-shark metahuman with a near-insatialble appetite for…anybody. So, can these squabbling cons join forces to free Harley and Quinn, in addition to completing their task of destroying a secret lab that’s trying to harness a deadly captured alien entity? If they don’t liqiidate each other, then …maybe.

Of this motley squad, the most prominent, this time around is played by Elba, who makes a good “straight man”, or “sounding board” for the more outrageous and wacky characters. He’s a weary, jaded “everyman” who only wants to keep his head down (often scrubbing toilets) and get through his “time”. Then we see his rage begin to emerge as the threats from Waller make his cold blood begin to boil. He makes us wish for a “prequel” in order to see Bloodsport in his element. That’s hinted at during his frequent verbal and sometimes physical stand-offs with Peacemaker, played with fervent comic glee by an energized Cena, tossing off his glowering villain role in the recent F9. In his shiny helmet, Cena is a beacon of pure confidence, deluding himself into believing he’s an indestructible hero, that even society can’t see it. Robbie as Harley has a smaller, though still vital role in this outing, As opposed to that 2016 original and the BIRDS OF PREY follow-up, Harley is often part of a “cutaway” “B” plot, but her dangerous unpredictability makes her a most compelling “wild card”. I was most delightfully surprised by the addition of Dastmalchian, a scene-stealer from the MCU’s ANT-MAN series, who brings unexpected pathos to the seemingly silly “gimmick” anti-hero Polka-Dot man. We can see by the sadness in his eyes that he’s been a hapless Patsy” for most of his life, thanks to his super-scientist matriarch. Stallone generates lots of laughs as the child-like King Shark, though he often comes off as a mix of Groot and Drax from the GUARDIANS flicks. Fans of TV’s “Doctor Who” may be bummed that Peter Capaldi, a recent “time lord”, has little to do as the arrogant Thinker. He’s more of a human “MacGuffin” who mainly warns the heroes and baddies that they don’t comprehend the powerful forces only he can control, all the while he resembles a human virus with his bald head sporting multi-colored tubes. Kinnaman is once again the stalwart, stoic soldier who can still keep up with these “weirdos”. And Davis builds on the ruthless Waller, even as she’s kept within the confines of the monitoring station (the “lady behind the desk” ala the recent SPIDER-MAN flicks), making her the ultimate screeching, spewing “boss from Hell”. Her counterpoint might be Melchoir who brings a sweet vulnerability to the often emotional fragile Ratcatcher, especially as she thinks back to her childhood years with RC 1, played by Taika Waititi in fuzzy, fairytale-like flashbacks.

So, who’s the filmmaker playing “both sides” of the comic book movie battlefield. None other than James Gunn, who changed “sides” after a social media scandal (all’s resolved now as he’s working on his last film in the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY trilogy). A big incentive for him might have been the lifting of the “PG-13” restraints as Warners continues their pursuit of that “R” rating box office that the DEADPOOL series unleashed (that last SS flick had the tamer rating). Without Kevin Feige and the MCU masterminds, to watch over him, Gunn lets his Troma Studio (the TOXIC AVENGER exploitation house gave him his early movie “breaks”) roots show. There’s a barrage of “F-bombs” that is almost matched in volume for the gallons of gore and exploding bodies. When the baddies (and a lot of the semi-reformed, now “goodies”) take a hail of bullets, the blood splatters the camera lens (wonder how that looks in 3D, if that version’s being provided) with lingering corpse close-ups. Though it may be catering to the “first shooter” gaming fanatics, it becomes quite numbing after a while despite some of Gunn’s directorial “flourishes”. During a long Harley blitzkrieg, animated flowers and birds cover much of the carnage (perhaps to show her indifference, but I’m thinking to may have been done to steer the rating board away from an “NC-17′ box-office dooming label). Oh, and later we view much of a brutal hand-to-hand fight in the reflection of Peacekeeper’s shiny helmet (perhaps this should’ve been trimmed) Ditto for the often cloying “chapter headings” As the script’s sole screenwriter Gunn sometimes goes to the “schtick” well a couple of times too many (another “everybody is Mom” mirage), but much of the humor does “stick”, especially as he has some fun at the expense of many second…no…third-rate supervillains like Nathan Fillon’s T.D.K. and the man-sized furball known as Weasel (who we’re told is the killer of dozens of kids). Yes, the lil’ ones are not off-limits as collateral damage, along with with some cute feathered friends (don’t get me started with the way-too-frequent tobacco usage). And while Corto Maltese and its residents seem to have wandered in from a 60s spy flick, Gunn literally demolishes the cliche with an inspired tribute to the lumbering giant monster flicks of that same era (and featuring a “Silver Age” comics creature that will delight the pulp fans). Oh, if you’re wondering if this is better than the 2016 flick, well that’s an enthusiastic yes, despite the obligatory multiple ending (if only there were a movie bartender who’d yell “Cut ’em off!”). So if you can handle your comic heroes and villains with blood and brains staining those nice latex and kevlar super suits, then you’ll want to “blow s#*t up real good” with THE SUICIDE SQUAD.

3 Out of 5

THE SUICIDE SQUAD opens in theatres everywhere and is streaming for the next 30 days on HBO Max.

Jim Batts was a contestant on the movie edition of TV's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" in 2009 and has been a member of the St. Louis Film Critics organization since 2013.