DC's The Suicide Squad is a quasi-sequel to David Ayer's 2016 Suicide Squad movie insofar as it brings back some of the actors and characters, and doesn't retcon any of the events that happened in the previous film. But with a new filmmaker at the helm and Warner Bros. taking a much looser approach to its DC Extended Universe franchise, The Suicide Squad is as different from its predecessor as could be, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as both critical and casual reactions to the 2016 movie were mixed. In fact, The Suicide Squad is perhaps the best test case for Warner Bros.' new DC movie strategy, and it proves that when a film franchise doesn't feel overly beholden to what came before, it can shine. The Suicide Squad, from the mind of James Gunn, is both wickedly entertaining and shamelessly depraved fun set in the DC movie world.
The events of the film follow two separate incarnations of Task Force X: One led by Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) that includes Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), TDK (Nathan Fillion), Blackguard (Pete Davidson), Savant (Michael Rooker), Weasel (Sean Gunn), Mongal (Mayling Ng), Javelin (Flula Borg) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). Another team led by Bloodsport (Idris Elba) that includes Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), Peacemaker (John Cena), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone) and Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian). Both teams are spearheaded by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who tasks them with traveling to Corto Maltese in order to destroy something called Project Starfish. But when things go awry and the gigantic alien Starro is unleashed, it's up to a bunch of criminals to save the world from the conquering invader.
The Suicide Squad really showcases Gunn's stylistic and comedic flair that is expertly balanced with R-rated action and horror. Gunn has previously demonstrated a skill for tackling stories featuring an array of characters who then come together in a way that makes sense for the story and shows their development, and that's perfectly on display in The Suicide Squad. But the filmmaker's past work in the horror genre, where he cut his teeth with his directorial debut Slither, is also showcased here with his use of brutal kills and eerie creepiness. In the end, The Suicide Squad is a movie that could have only been made by Gunn since it is so unique to his particular filmmaking sensibilities - and his vision makes for a refreshingly unique, electrifying and thrilling movie experience.
Gunn's choice of DC characters for the film is another master stroke, using a mix of familiar faces and those who will be completely new to viewers (or, only recognizable to those with a deep knowledge of the comics). Robbie's Harley Quinn is no doubt the biggest of the returning DCEU characters, and she's served well by Gunn's movie. The film shows off not only her skills as a fighter, but her growth from Birds of Prey, which helps to keep her character consistent. Still, Harley isn't the true heart of The Suicide Squad - for better or for worse. That honor goes to Elba's Bloodsport and Melchior's Ratcatcher 2; they're a compelling pair to watch, with their emotional bond serving to ground the more ostentatious and ridiculous aspects of the film. But they also fit well within the group dynamic, contrasted with the ultranationalist Peacemaker, played by a delightfully hilarious Cena, the quietly tragic Polka-Dot man played with a subtle, but perfect comedic tone by Dastmalchian, and the oafishly sweet King Shark, voiced by a solidly entertaining Stallone. Not to be outdone by the newbies, Davis' Waller and Kinnaman's Flag form the backbone of The Suicide Squad, giving quietly effective performances. And while the rest of the massive ensemble cast is given less to work with, they're all super fun in their roles.
Perhaps The Suicide Squad's biggest struggle is wrangling its massive cast of characters into a movie that keeps up a good forward momentum without including too many info dumps to flesh out the characters. Sometimes this comes in the form of Waller giving a rundown of Task Force X - which will feel reminiscent of Ayer's 2016 movie, though it moves at a much faster clip and only gives detailed background on the characters that are important. At other times, though, backstories are delivered in a quiet moment when the team is bonding, which is more impactful - even if it's still entirely transparent that what's happening is character development. But all this development does work effectively in making certain character deaths feel emotional. And when there isn't the character development to make a death impactful, Gunn uses the film's R-rating to ensure it packs a punch - to the gut, if not the heart.
Ultimately, The Suicide Squad is a riotously good time at the movies, with Gunn's style making for an entertaining theatrical experience. Fans of Gunn's past films and fans of the DC comics characters and movies, as well as anyone looking for a fun R-rated action flick, would do well with checking out The Suicide Squad. The movie is also certainly worth seeing for those who felt cheated by 2016's Suicide Squad, with Gunn's being an overall more satisfying, cohesive and ultimately superior film. For those who didn't see the 2016 movie, though, it's not required to understand The Suicide Squad, so moviegoers can go into Gunn's film without any prior knowledge of Task Force X (or even the larger DCEU). Gunn's The Suicide Squad stands on its own in the larger DCEU while also loosely connecting to what came before and setting the stage for more to come - including his upcoming Peacemaker show. It's the kind of filmmaking that rewards returning fans while being accessible to new or casual viewers. As a result, The Suicide Squad is a delicious, deviant and delightful watch for everyone.
The Suicide Squad starts playing in U.S. theaters Thursday evening, August 5 and starts streaming on HBO Max Friday, August 6. It is 132 minutes long and rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and brief graphic nudity.
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