by Daniel Andrade
In 2014, James Gunn, a writer/director not necessarily known for the most wholesome films, brought to life one of the riskiest ideas Marvel ever had: Guardians of the Galaxy. One of Marvel’s more obscure comics featuring a wacky ragtag group of heroes, it became an instant classic and cemented the Guardians as an essential part of the MCU.
Two years later, David Ayer released his own version of a misfit group of metahumans with the highly anticipated Suicide Squad, featuring some of DC’s most iconic villains all teamed up to save the world. With its colorful aesthetic and excellent cast, it was poised to be the movie to boost DC into Marvel territory, bringing a fun, exciting, and entertaining film to DC’s other darker and more brooding movies. Unfortunately, it failed to live up to the high expectations and left many viewers ultimately disappointed.
Another two years later, in July of 2018, Gunn, fresh off of a successful second installment of the Guardians films, was fired by Disney for offensive tweets he had posted a decade earlier. Though he had apologized for them previously, he took full accountability for his actions, apologized again, and disappeared from social media, his career ostensibly over. However, within a few days of the news, DC reached out to Gunn and asked him if he would be interested in directing a new Suicide Squad film, which he gladly accepted.
Additionally, by March of 2019, Gunn was rehired by Disney after having multiple conversations with the higher-ups at Disney and proving that he was truly sorry about the situation, handled it well, and was a completely different person now than he was when he posted those awful tweets.
So suffice to say, a lot was leading up to this film. A director who almost lost everything getting a second chance. A premise with lots of potential being given another shot to succeed with a new vision. A studio that was willing to go for an R rating instead of the previous PG-13 rating. How did all these factors contribute to the film? Let’s discuss.
Let me start off by saying The Suicide Squad is one of the craziest films I’ve ever seen. It is bombastic, raucous, loud, and viciously gory. But it’s also the most fun I’ve had at the movies in quite some time. There’s no doubt now, after seeing him work with the Guardians and now the Suicide Squad (or “Task Force X” as they’re now known), that Gunn is the master of team-based movies. With a wide variety of characters that each has so much going on for them, it would be easy to monopolize one character at the expense of the others or just leave all of them feeling rushed and incomplete. But under Gunn’s direction and writing, each character highlighted here absolutely shines, no matter how long they’re on screen. I felt a connection for each character in this film, whether it was disgust, pity, fear, or sympathy.
Two characters from the previous film did return, and rightfully so. Margot Robbie reprises her role as Harley Quinn and continues to bring the character to vibrant life with her quirky one-liners and unbelievable fighting skills. In this third film with the role, Robbie has fully realized her interpretation of the character, and it always brings me such joy to see Harley let loose. Joining her from the 2016 version is Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and this time around, she is much more menacing, conniving, and downright evil, making her almost more terrifying than the actual villains we see on screen. Her ruthless drive to get her mission done is incredibly intimidating, and it helps to see some of her underlings also cowering in fear and questioning her motives and decisions. There are so many new characters brought to life by fantastic actors, but a few that stood out and are worthy of mention are David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man (he brings a sad vulnerability to the character that is endearing but balances it out with a fiery rage that exhibits itself when he lets his dots loose), John Cena as Peacemaker (he brings a douchey braggadocio to his character that makes he love him and hate him at the same time), Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2 (she is probably the least villainous of the bunch, and brings a charm and millennial coolness to her character that makes her easy to root for), and of course Idris Elba as Bloodsport (his reluctant attitude to lead the team and competitiveness with Peacemaker are fun to watch unfold, and his action scenes with his high-tech weaponry are always thoroughly fun to watch on-screen).
As for the story, Gunn takes a non-linear approach that certainly takes you on a wild ride. I love how each section is a chapter of sorts, and the way he displays the chapter titles is inventive and creative. Just when you think you’re getting somewhere with the story, Gunn pulls back the curtain and shows what led to those events. It’s safe to say expect the unexpected when it comes to this film. Additionally, the action is insane. Some moments made me squirm and avert my eyes because they were just that gruesome, but those same bloody moments also help to show the true power (and recklessness) of these villains. Be prepared to see bodies being bloodily dismembered or blown up. Don’t go into this film expecting it to make perfect sense. It’s supposed to be crazy and bizarre; that’s what makes Suicide Squad stand out from other DC properties. Turn off your brain for a bit and just enjoy the madness.
On the other hand, as stated earlier, I appreciate how Gunn can make these characters, recruited from a high-security prison, feel so relatable and worth rooting for. A particularly poignant point in the film is when Ratcatcher 2 reflects on a moment she shared with her dad, Ratcatcher (played by Taika Waititi!). They are talking about why they work with rats, and her father explains that “Rats are the lowliest and most despised of all creatures, my love. If they have purpose, so do we all.” It’s a heartwarming moment that serves as an obvious but no less impactful metaphor for the Suicide Squad themselves. It’s this combination of heart and explosive action, combined with a twisted sense of humor, that makes The Suicide Squad the disturbingly wonderful film that it is. I’m excited to see where Gunn can take this concept and these characters next.
CONCLUSION: The Suicide Squad proves that in the right hands, a motley crew of bumbling villains and anti-heroes can be incredibly captivating and fun to watch. With off-the-wall action, zany characters, and a touch of heart, this film is a unique story that you won’t want to miss, especially if you’re a fan of superhero films. It’s great to have Gunn back, and I’m excited to continue following the trajectory of his career. Once again, be sure to stick around for the end credits scene!
FINAL SCORE: 9/10
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