Movie Review 040 Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad (Warner Bros) {DC}
[080116] 3.5/5

~ Synopsis ~

When her little brother, Martin, experiences the same events that once tested her sanity, Rebecca works to unlock the truth behind the terror, which brings her face to face with an entity that has an attachment to their mother, Sophie.

Cast
Will Smith - Deadshot
Margot Robbie - Harley Quinn
Jared Leto - Joker
Viola Davis - Amanda Waller
...

- 26%/ 71%, 6.9/10, 40, 6.7, wiki, official -

(Director David Ayer [End of Watch, Fury], Budget $175 Millions = Box Office $294.4> Millions [domestic], Duration 2hrs 3mns, Rating PG-13, Genre - Action Adventure, Comedy, Criminal, DC Extended Universe, Metahuman, Supernatural)

START OF SPOILER

- Unconventionally diverse but perfect grouping of cast playing each of the characters (with a lot of standouts and also a couple of missteps) as the chemistry between them are undeniably palpable with quippy dialogues and wonderful interactions between them (i.e. Deadshot with Rick Flagg & Harley Quinn & the Joker)

- A rather hectic hence imbalance tone and flow of the storyline with disjointed and messy transition between scenes with sudden flashbacks and change in the direction of the movie (which could be contributed to the rushed writing and reactionary direction in the wake of previous movies) although it rather fit the chaotic nature of the ensemble but in the end to the detriment of their on-screen portrayals

- entertaining and engaging action sequences complete with slow motion highlights and hard-hitting attacks (i.e. the first ground level fight scene & Harley Quinn's elevator duel) but marred with a few unfocused and unflattering shots of close combat sequences 

- a massive misstep in the main villains' department with underdeveloped backstory and unearned spotlight by giving into the now generic Hollywood superhero stereotypes (cannon fodder henchmen, fully CG-ed villain, the bright light in the sky, the over dramatization and underwhelming ending) with questionable decisions to argue upon

+ Highlights:
 ~ eyecatching and unique appearances and attires for the antiheroes, fresh and entertaining music videos-style introductory scenes for each of them with trading card details, contemporary soundtrack,
 ~ ruthlessly sinister Amanda Waller, charismatic and funny Deadshot, crazily charming Harley Quinn, psychotically chaotic jerk mob boss Joker with a dynamic pairing between them, scene stealer Captain Boomerang in small doses, conflicted but authoritative Rick Flagg, haunting Enchantress under arrest, virtuous although bordering cameo Katana, redemptive Diablo & freakishly cool Killer Croc
 ~ the Deadshot's heartwrenching origin, the awe-inducing transformations from the geologist to the Enchantress, the Flash cameo, the transformation from Harley Quinzel to Harley Quinn and her eventual capture scene with the Bat-punching, the target practice prowess, the explosive execution of Slipknot serving as a lethal warning, the Deadshot's sole moment on top of the car, the heartless execution by the lady boss, the cinematic rescue by the Joker, Harley Quinn putting on the act after the supposed death of his 'pudding', the much needed and highly interesting downtime in the bar, the emotional backstory for Diablo, the Enchantress' mind play, the Diablo's fiery transformation into a Mexican/Mayan fire demon, heroic sacrifice of Diablo, stylistically flashy ending credits

- Lowlights:
 ~ jarring and tacky placement of the soundtrack, too little screen time for the Prince of Chaos, wasted Slipknot although it's a callback to his role in the original comic, messy transition with uneven tone because of the studio's more cheery cut compared to the original darker cut of the director, the dancing(?) regal Enchantress

END OF SPOILER

"Ya'll jokers must be crazy!" ~ Deadshot, "Will you live for me?" ~ Joker, "We're bad guys ... that's what we do." ~ Harley Quinn, "I'm beautiful .." ~ Killer Croc,