The Suicide Squad (2021) Review
Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, Viola Davis, David Dastmalchian, Daniela Melchior, Michael Rooker, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi, Alice Braga, and Pete Davidson
Synopsis: Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin, and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.
Review: James Gunn has created a fun, maniacal and beautifully shot movie that features some superb action scenes, hilarious one liners and one helluva body count.
The Suicide Squad had people split, but Gunn, is a guy you put in the driver’s seat, and you don’t backseat drive, buckle up, shut the fuck up and enjoy the ride…now, onto why this movie is a masterpiece…
The opening scene, it is something plucked out of Saving Private Ryan, the D-Day beach landing scene, except we have a whole band of DC characters getting graciously destroyed in every manner of way you could possibly imagine, limbs and blood fly and explode. The beginning feels like a finale with the carnage level. Movie fans know, it will only get better leading to the finale.
The main team consists of, Bloodsport – a ruthless assassin who had nearly killed Superman, Bloodsport wears a high-tech suit which has the ability to create weapons, Peacemaker – a killer who would do whatever it takes to achieve peace, King Shark – a man eating, human hybrid great white shark, Polka-Dot Man – can shoot out thousands of polka dots the can essentially cut people to shreds, and Ratcatcher 2 – a thief that can control and manipulate rats then use them as a weapon, last of all, Harley Quinn – who needs no introduction! The team is assembled by Amanda Waller, who of course has to blackmail the team to do her bidding and injects them with an explosive, Escape From New York, style!
Gunn creates THE perfect action scenes while also splashing in some humour, the camp scene for instance, has Bloodsport and Peacemaker having a ‘who’s the most lethal’ measuring contest a scene which consists of the two wiping out a whole camp stealthily and effectively all the while trying to one up the other, it’s a memorable scene that Idris Elba and John Cena shine in. Another spectacularly shot action segment is Harley Quinn’s escape from a fortress, is a beautiful ballet of bullets and numerous sharp weaponry where Harley dispatches a whole army single handedly, Gunn takes us into Harley’s mind where flowers all brightly coloured take over and the mix of the flowers, colour and ultra-violence all blends together and takes you through a calmy intense action scene – make sense of that? I’m sure James Gunn fully gets what I mean!
Joel Kinnaman, returns as Rick Flag, his character is less up tight this time around and the character has been made more fun – more one liners and much more likeable, which is a highlight. He’s now a character we end up rooting for. King Shark – who is voiced by action legend Sylvester Stallone, is a scene stealer! There’s a shot of him in the rain, ripping a soldier in two, the scene is beautifully shot, and the freeze-frame would make such an iconic piece of wall art! Idris Elba and John Cena as Bloodsport and Peacemaker are perfectly cast, with news of Cena appearing in a Peacemaker spin-off which has wrapped filming, fingers crossed we see the return of Elba as Bloodsport. David Dastmalchian and Daniela Melchior, star as Polka-Dot Man and Ratcatcher 2, both have their action highlights throughout, their stories carry more of emotional attachment and makes these characters the two you can sympathise with the most. Finally, Margot Robbie stuns, wow and completely let’s loose as Harley Quinn, she had completely taken the character and made it her own, there is no one else that could portray the character the way Robbie does! Let’s hope we get to see more Harley Quinn as the DC Universe expands.
Overall, The Suicide Squad is a spectacular movie! James Gunn has made the most fun, brutal and spectacular entry in the DC Universe, yet. The cast is amazing, the action sequences are completely insane and brilliant choreographed. This movie is worthy of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
