Rats, polka dots and a huggable shark. Three things that make no sense in a superhero movie but somehow stand out the most in the wild ride that is “The Suicide Squad.” Director James Gunn created a chaotic masterpiece that completely erased the bitter aftertaste of the first Suicide Squad movie and finally gave fans an enjoyable take on these characters. From the first ten minutes of the movie we realize we’re in for something crazy where nobody is safe no matter how famous the actor might be. Michael Rooker, Pete Davidson and Jai Courtney died horrible yet hilarious deaths in the opening action sequence and had no relevance to the plot whatsoever except being film’s most expensive punchlines. The budget of this movie was massive, so of course Gunn could mess around as much as he wanted and shock his audience just for the hell of it. Not that I’m complaining.
The unpredictable nature of the movie is what made it so enjoyable to watch. My only complaint is that Captain Boomerang had a minor role when he’d been the best character of the first Suicide Squad movie, but I understand why Gunn made that call. He had to let his new characters assume the center stage and shine as the protagonists instead. Only Margot Robbie and Joel Kinnaman reprised their old roles and stayed relevant throughout the whole film, showing the best sides of Harley Quinn and Rick Flag that we’ve seen on screen so far. Robbie is always delightful to watch as Harley even when the stories of her character aren’t as great as her acting skills, but Gunn stepped up to the occasion and gave her a solid story arc that eliminated the downsides of the previous films and did not portray her through the male gaze as in the first movie. Harley was at her most chaotic and comedic, but also most mature and developed. Not to mention that she got the best solo action scene of the whole movie with a strange combination of gore and animated birds and flowers.
The fact that Gunn managed to develop a big cast of multilayer characters without leaving anyone behind is a testament to his skills as a director. “The Suicide Squad” is an exploration of the weird underdogs and their unconventional camaraderie that still succeeds at revealing the human beings underneath the criminals. Even the mutant shark gets this treatment. Nanaue, AKA King Shark, went from being a mid-level comic book character to a new favorite. Despite his monstrous appearance he’s just a softy underneath whose interests are making friends and eating people. He represents those who are left on the sidelines and suffer harsh prejudice without having the chance to reveal their true selves. King Shark has a lot of love to give and I expect to see him star in future projects.
Polka-dot Man was another unexpected favorite. Clearly insane and disturbed, with the most absurd name and costume, he was one of the most interesting to watch. His intense mommy issues and a deep desire for revenge provided some of the most comical scenes of the movie while the actor’s admirable performance portrayed an awkward outcast in such a moving way that made his death a tragedy. I actually felt sad after Starro killed him.
Idris Elba was another great addition to Taskforce X and his character provided the necessary leadership when Rick Flag wasn’t around. I didn’t expect him to have any development and stay as the tough and cold soldier for the whole movie but this wasn’t the case. There was a human being underneath, with a phobia of rats, a surprising sense of humor and the ability to differentiate good from evil. His rivalry with John Cena’s Peacemaker was satisfying to watch because it paid off in the tense duel at the end. He managed to save Ratcatcher 2 and keep his promise to her just as she kept his promise to him by staying by his side and saving the day with the help of her rats, while also helping Bloodsport overcome his fear of rats.
Action-packed from start to finish, “The Suicide Squad” had a few short moments of peace that were always interrupted by ongoing conflict coming from every direction. Just as Viola Davis’s Amanda Waller seemed to be secondary in the film, she stepped in and threatened the Suicide Squad in such a way that felt genuine and outright scary. Davis is one of the most talented actors out there and her interpretation of Amanda Waller’s ruthlessness was spot-on. Besides, Gunn had already established that main characters could die at any time and this made Waller’s threats more imminent.
The director’s creativity was reflected in the scene transitions that used the environment of the frame to construct a title. Although this made the film feel episodic, it had the perfect pace and did not feel all over the place like the previous movie. The fight scene mirrored in Peacemaker’s helmet and the group shot in the rain were two of the most iconic moments in the film and made a statement on Gunn’s stellar cinematography. His dark sense of humor fit the mood of the movie and wasn’t overwhelming or too repetitive as it tends to happen in some superhero movies. He just got everything right — except Weasel. I’m still upset about his absence as he was the most bizarre and hilarious character of all, but it’s safe to assume he’ll join the others in future projects, hopefully as the new leader of the Suicide Squad.
