Movie Review- Jackie K Cooper
"Suicide Squad" (Warner Brothers)
"Suicide Squad" is an enjoyable movie. Does that surprise you? Well it certainly surprised me. It surprised me because I am not a fan of the comic book, in fact I have never read the comic book, so I was a novice to all of the characters' stories. I entered this bizarro world with no warning and no expectations whatsoever except for the trailer that had been playing for what seems like months now. The trailer presented the movie in the worst of ways.
The first thought I had when the characters were being assembled into a crime fighting group was that it seemed a lot like "Guardians of the Galaxy." It is a movie on the same order, but when you hold the two movies up side by side in your head you realize Will Smith is no Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana is no Margot Robbie.
Robbie's portrayal of dizzily crazy Harley Quinn is the best thing about the movie. This woman is beautiful, brutal, bat-wielding, adorable and bonkers. At one time she was the Joker's (Jared Leto) psychiatrist. Then along came love and she was hauled off to the dark side where she has continued to reside. Robbie plays this member of the "Squad" to perfection. Even when the camera is not focused on her the audience's attention is focused on her.
And as good as she is, that is how bad Smith is as the character known as Deadshot". Whatever leading man charisma Smith once had, it is all gone bye bye. His acting in this movie is too smug and too low key. The audience should be drawn to him but instead they opt for one of the other characters - any of the other characters. The only other actor in the movie who gives him competition in the boredom department is Joel Kinniman who plays the military leader of the group, Rick Flag.
The plot of this film is so contorted and confusing that it is impossible to describe. I am sure the fans of the comic books know everything about each and every character. Plus they know how close the film sticks to that story and what points and plot devices it omits. For a newbie such as myself it is just easier to not worry about the plot development and just relax and go with the flow. Especially when the flow is as appealing as Robbie's Harley.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
There is a lot of fun to be had watching "Suicide Squad." It is a cross between "Batman vs Superman" and "Deadpool." A flaw it shares with "BvS" is that most of the action takes place at night in the rain. Doesn't anybody battle in the light of day anymore?
This film attracted a lot of haters before it opened but I enjoyed myself. It isn't the best super hero/villain movie ever made but it does provide two hours of entertainment. And when all else fails there is always Robbie's Harley to admire.
I scored "Suicide Squad" a death wish 6 out of 10.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com