Director James Gunn gives his take on “The Suicide Squad,” starring Margot Robbie, Idris Elba and John Cena, now in theatres and on HBO Max.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD
Warner Bros. Pictures
Studio 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.
The film stars Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Bombshell”), Idris Elba (“Avengers: Infinity War”), John Cena (upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker,” “F9”), Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), Jai Courtney (the “Divergent” franchise), Peter Capaldi (“World War Z,” BBC’s “Doctor Who” ), David Dastmalchian (upcoming “Dune,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Daniela Melchior (“Parque Mayer”), Michael Rooker (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films), Alice Braga (“Elysium”), Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island,” TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Joaquín Cosio (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” TV’s “Narcos: Mexico”), Juan Diego Botto (“The Europeans”), Storm Reid (“The Invisible Man,” “A Wrinkle in Time”, “Euphoria”), Nathan Fillion (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” TV’s “The Rookie”), Steve Agee (“Brightburn,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), Sean Gunn (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, the “Avengers” films), Mayling Ng (“Wonder Woman”), Flula Borg (“Ralph Breaks the Internet”), Jennifer Holland (“Brightburn,” upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker”) and Tinashe Kajese (TV’s “Valor,” “The Inspectors”), with Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky,” “Rambo” and “Expendables” franchises), and Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Suicide Squad”).
Gunn (the “Guardian of the Galaxy” films) directed from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC. The film was produced by Charles Roven and Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, Nikolas Korda and Richard Suckle executive producing.
Gunn’s creative team included director of photography Henry Braham (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), production designer Beth Mickle (“Captain Marvel”), editors Fred Raskin (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood”) and Christian Wagner (the “Fast & Furious” films) and Oscar-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”). The music is by John Murphy (“Kick-Ass”).
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents An Atlas Entertainment/A Peter Safran Production, A James Gunn Film, “The Suicide Squad.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is set for release nationwide in theaters and IMAX on August 6, 2021 and will be available on HBO Max in UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on supported devices for 31 days from theatrical release.
This film is rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and brief graphic nudity.
J.P.’s Take:
DC’s “Suicide Squad” was an offshoot, dusted off title from their past much in the same vain as “Guardians of the Galaxy” was for Marvel. Unfortunately for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), the 2016 version failed to strike high notes with even the novice of viewers. So why not go to the godfather of “buddy hero” films himself, “Guardians'” director James Gunn, for the relaunch called “The Suicide Squad.”
You can practically call this latest version a reboot/relaunch in the sense that it doesn’t anchor itself in the first film nor the world DCEU has sunk into. Consider “The Suicide Squad” James Gunn’s alter ego, as it feels like a legit thrill ride worthy of its characters.
Whereas David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad” stayed rooted in DC’s dark dreary underworld, James Gunn took it and placed it in front of a funhouse mirror while dragging it out into daylight and exposing it for the twisted carnival attraction it was meant to be. Then he douses it with dark humor and warped action scenes. Nothing about the first film is planted in this reboot, in which case you can view this as a standalone venture.
It certainly takes a mastermind to direct such a chaotic exposition, yet this is where Gunn excels. He doesn’t bog down the film with overdone blow’em up presentations. Nor does he open it with run of the mill intros or build ups. Gunn launches viewers into a hell storm first, hits you with a bit of “shock and awe” then finds time for the characters to breath. And what a deranged dysfunctional group of misfits they are, as their histories start to unravel. As witnessed in his outing with Marvel’s Guardians of The Galaxy,” James Gunn’s comedic prowess is also on display here. Even in the midst of opponents being butchered, you’ll most likely hear Harley Quinn spouting something totally off the wall and almost incoherent. The jokes are brash, ferocious and without remorse. And yes, DC earns its first R rating making this a playground for adult humor to rise. You’ll find a good deal of bloody battles, slightly disturbing character development, hefty explosions, visual appeal and gritty language … without going overboard or making you feel dirty at the end of it.
As a whole “The Suicide Squad” is a well-balanced flick. Not weighing too heavily on old hat action troupes that cause other summer blockbusters to go stale. Keeping the characters’ stories in play and injecting comedy in just the right increments. James Gunn’s alumni with Troma Entertainment back in the 90’s, is evident in DC’s upgraded savage new image. Something they need to carve out their own niche in the hero film arena.
I was blown away by the list of cast mates that lace DC’s newest trip.
- One shocker is Sylvester Stallone, who pops up on screen as the opening credits run. If I didn’t know any better I can tell he’s lending his voice to the numbskull King Shark a.k.a Nanaue. Much like Groot in Marvel’s “Guardians,” King Shark speaks in a nonsensical manner with little attention to coherent sentences; giving this CGed character plenty of comical ground.
- To have Idris Elba as Bloodsport / Robert Dubois is a treat. Elba’s gusto here is alluring and well seated as Dubois. He’s fiery with just a bit of humanity in him.
- Jon Cena plays Christopher Smith /. Peacemaker a nationalist with a twisted sense of humor. Cena does have a funny bone and it’s in this character that he takes ultrapatriotism to a different level.
Reprising the roles of Harley Quinn, Amanda Waller, Rick Flag and George “Digger” Harkness / Captain Boomerang are Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman and Jai Courtney, respectively.
- Harley is ever so infectious and diabolically adorable and a hit with fans. I’m elated with her incarnation here as James Gunn and Margot Robbie decided to bring Quinn back to her roots. She’s donning the biker jacket with the red and black color scheme instead of the stripper shorts and crop top. The facial tattoo is also omitted. THANK GOODNESS.
- Viola Davis ups the ante breathing fire and brimstone into her role as the director of A.R.G.U.S., who runs the Task Force X program, this time around.
- Joel Kinnaman’s portrayal of Flag seems less cardboard standee and more refreshed without the jadedness.
- Not much more can be said of Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang, expect the fact that he’s more of a bonehead than ever … with just a touch more mischievousness added for good measure.
Rounding out the new faces added to the cast are Michael Rooker (also from Gunn’s “Guardians” stable), in the part of Savant/Brian Durlin; David Dastmalchain in the role of Abner Krill/Polka-Dot Man; Daniela Melchior as Cleo Cazo/Ratcatcher 2; Nathan Fillion as T.D.K/Cory Pitzner; Pete Davidson plays Blackguard/Richard “Dick” Hertz; and Sean Gunn voicing and motion captured Weasel. Mayling Ng as Mongal and Flula Borg as Gunter Braun/Javlin are part of the cast.
2016’s “Suicide Squad” was just a trail run, 2021’s “The Suicide Squad” is the maiden voyage and, like “Joker,” it is a riot to view.