The Suicide Squad (2021) - SPOILER-FREE Review
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Directed by: James Gunn
Written 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, Pete Davidson
Runtime: 132 min
Synopsis: Supervillains Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.
I'm one of the few people out there who doesn't straight-up despise 2016's Suicide Squad. It's by no means a film I recommend, but considering the whole genre, I don't believe it's comparable to many awful flicks of the past. With that said, what annoyed me the most at the time of its release were the misleading trailers - I still watched them back then. Most of the disappointment that I felt was due to receiving a movie that wasn't near the one that was marketed. Now, with James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) at the helm and a trailer-free perspective, I knew I wasn't going to get yet another letdown.
The writer-director was given complete freedom to make The Suicide Squad - a privilege that should be awarded to more filmmakers - and it shows. The rated-R content elevates this film in so many ways, transforming it into what its predecessor should have been in the first place. A brutally gory, disgustingly bloody, action-heavy superhero movie filled with dark humor but also with emotionally compelling characters who undoubtedly carry this film. Let me first address the action since I'm genuinely surprised by the quality of this component.
From impressively long takes with exceptional fight choreography to the near-perfect song selection that adds a fun layer to the set pieces, Gunn puts to use that R-rating and goes all out. There's something for every viewer. If you enjoy straight-up serious fighting, Harley Quinn has a phenomenally shot scene across a hallway, savagely beating up a bunch of random bad guys - excellent stunt work from Margot Robbie (Birds of Prey), who does a lot of her stuff. If you like more comedic sequences, Peacemaker (John Cena) and Bloodsport (Idris Elba) share one of the most hilariously long set pieces of the entire movie.
The VFX are also much better than expected. Every CGI creature and monster actually looks quite nice with great shadows and texture. The song selection - score by John Murphy - is on-point, with a few good puns "hidden" in the lyrics. All add an extra layer of fun to every action scene. All the gore, blood, and rated-R content feel more than just gimmicks. They're intrinsic to what and how a Suicide Squad film should feel like. It's definitely not a light-humor flick. It makes the viewers laugh or chuckle about jokes that people aren't supposed to be laughing at, ironically making the comedy bits hit even harder.
While it's true that not every joke lands, the overall tonal balance is decent enough. I can't recall a moment where a joke landed so badly that it negatively impacted the following minutes. The biggest issue with Gunn's "sequel" to the 2016's infamous flick is similar to one of the latter's problems: the generic, formulaic, unsurprising story. The Suicide Squad still carries the usual cliches, repetitive genre formulas, and basic narrative structure. No viewer is expecting an award-worthy screenplay, but a little bit of innovation in this area is always welcome.
To compensate for the issue above, Gunn focuses on the stars of the show. What is written above remains true, but the character-driven screenplay succeeds in its primary mission: portraying remarkably captivating characters. Gunn actually makes the squad feel human. Almost every (new) character receives plenty of screentime to share their touching backstory, creating a real attachment with the viewers. The truth is I cared about the team, and that's a massive achievement, especially compared to the other "less successful" adaptation.
The entire cast boasts such an incredible chemistry that anyone can see that the actors had tremendous fun in the making of this movie. Margot Robbie has more individual screentime than any other actor due to her character's solo subplot, but her iconic interpretation of one of the most popular female comic-book characters still elevates any film she's in. Idris Elba (Concrete Cowboy) is one of those actors who just can't deliver a bad performance, and his banter with a gradually improving John Cena (F9) - the famous wrestler is so good that he's getting a Peacemaker TV spin-off - is a highlight of the movie.
Joel Kinnaman (The Secrets We Keep) returns as Rick Flag, one of the few characters I enjoyed watching in the previous film. This time, his character feels more open-minded and funnier, an evolution that Kinnaman performed seamlessly. Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) is also back as Amanda Waller, who, despite not having much screentime, it's always a pleasure witnessing one of the best actresses working today giving a demo of her immense talent. David Dastmalchian (Ant-Man and the Wasp) is amusing as the Polka-Dot Man and Sylvester Stallone (Rocky) as King Shark is a match made in heaven.
However, the big standout is Daniela Melchior's (Parque Mayer) breakthrough performance as Cleo Cazo / Ratcatcher 2. I know you probably think this is a mandatory patriotic comment since we share the same nationality, but I write this as impartial as I possibly can. I didn't know Melchior before this movie, and I certainly didn't expect her character to be the heart and soul of one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Ratcatcher 2 is the emotional glue of the squad, holding a massive heart and a kind personality. It's near-impossible to not connect with her sincere life story.
Melchior beautifully incorporates her - also Portuguese - character, instantly becoming a fan-favorite of the exponentially improving DCEU. I can't help but feel proud to finally have an actor/actress from my country shining in Hollywood, at least at this level - Daniela Ruah (NCIS: Los Angeles) deserves more credit than what she receives. A few cameos and some Guardians of the Galaxy references are spread throughout the runtime, which I know will definitely please the most avid fans of the genre.
Final Thoughts
The Suicide Squad is everything its predecessor should have been, boasting everything a Suicide Squad film deserves. Proper rated-R content with extremely gory, bloody action sequences, which are impressively shot and choreographed through long takes, exceptional stunt work, and surprisingly outstanding VFX. With the help of a witty soundtrack, James Gunn brings his dark humor to an expectedly hilarious level, though not all jokes land in a still generic screenplay filled with the usual cliches and formulaic developments. Nevertheless, the phenomenal cast elevates the overall picture with fantastic performances all-around, though Daniela Melchior's breakthrough performance is an absolute standout. Each squad member receives decent screentime to share their emotionally compelling backstories, transforming a superhero movie into a character-driven story instead of just a team of superpowered nobodies beating up a random CGI monster. Gunn just can't seem to miss.
