The Suicide Squad is so whacked, mostly in a good way. Writer and Director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 and 2) goes all-in with hyper-carnage, political commentary, and a biting sense of humor. No small feat. The Suicide Squad is not really a sequel, rather it is Suicide Squad Version 2.0.
Strong, charismatic Joel Kinnaman, returning as Special Forces Col. Flag, reminds the Suicide Squad that they are now Task Force X. Margot Robbie radiantly reprises as Harley Quinn, the blonde, pale white, sociopath hero/villain. Hysterically self-absorbed, she arrives late for their mission, because “I had to go number 2.”
Powerful Viola Davis returns as humorless Machiavellian Amanda Waller, the clandestine US Government Director of the Suicide Squad. She’s the ultimate chess master, determining who lives and who dies. With the Suicide Squad, that outcome is more or less a given. More or less.
In writer James Gunn’s narrative, the global threat is Project Starfish. Intel locates Project Starfish in the Jaten Heim tower on the island country of Corto Maltese. Corto Maltese is in the midst of military dictatorship under comically narcissistic President Luna, played by Juan Diego Botto, and his cluelessly rigid righthand General Suarez, played by Joaquin Cosio.
Replacing Will Smith from the original Suicide Squad is commanding, urbane Edris Elba, playing Robert Dubois, aka Bloodsport. Bloodsport’s expertise is close-in combat. He can leverage anything as a deadly weapon, even a fountain pen. Waller personally discovers that when she extorts Bloodsport into leading her Task Force X. Robert is incarcerated, and it’s purposely unclear for what crime. If Bloodsport doesn’t lead Waller’s Team, she’ll imprison his 16-year-old daughter Flow, smartly played by Tinashe Kajese, for her shoplifting transgression.
Poised to kill Waller, Robert says, “I’m no fucking leader!” Dispassionate Waller repeats, “Are you in or out?” Of course, he’s in. James Gunn deceptively reveals his narrative agenda: Find your purpose. James dazzles with flying exploding bodies, occasional penis jokes, and the giant walking starfish. Still, in its own bizarre way, The Suicide Squad is about family, stepping up, having a purpose in life.
Hysterical John Cena plays straight edge muscular Peacemaker, who virtually possesses the same skill set as Bloodsport. Although, Peacemaker really needs to lighten the fuck up. In James Gunn’s nuanced back story, Daniela Melchior gives us a quiet and strong Ratcatcher 2. Her dad, Ratcatcher, was a former Suicide Squad member. Like her dad, she commands rats to do her bidding. Kind of like Aquaman, but with rats. Peacemaker passionately tells Ratcatcher 2, “I cherish peace with all my heart. I don’t care how many men, women, and children I have to kill to get it.” That’s totally messed up.
More than Bloodsport, Daniela’s Ratcatcher 2 embodies the soul of absurdly twisted The Suicide Squad. At the narrative arc, Ratcatcher 2 summons her powers. She recalls her late Father, played by understanding Taika Waititi. He said, “Rats are the lowliest and most despised creatures, my love. But if they have purpose, so do we all.”
The Suicide Squad are supervillains, perhaps the lowliest creatures on Planet Earth. Still, they deserve to have a purpose. We all do. Reluctant Bloodsport steps up and becomes Suicide Squad leader. In more of a supporting role, Margot Robbie transforms aloof Harley into the selfless Hero. Quirky stunning Margot is the total badass as Harley Quinn. She goes all John Wick on Luna’s soldiers after being mercilessly tortured. Margot thrashes them with guns, kickboxing, and jujitsu. The one downside of The Suicide Squad is that James Gunn could have leveraged Margot a lot more. Maybe, that’s her cinematic penance for Birds of Prey. Despite the haters, I liked that movie a lot.
Wisely, James Gun chooses to focus on fewer villains in The Suicide Squad; there were way too many characters in Suicide Squad. Gentle David Dasmalchian plays grown-up child abused Polka-Dot Man. Polka-Dot Man got the dimensional virus from his mother, which gave him the power to throw exploding polka-dots. Yeah, really. In out-of-the-box casting, Sylvester Stallone voices King Shark, the hulking walking monosyllabic shark. The seemingly bulletproof King Shark’s superpower is literally eating people. WTF? Regardless, Sly is hilarious.
Much of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is intentional narrative misdirect, including the opening story. That said, James’s Version 2.0 is the welcome upgrade in tone, sensibility, and spirit. Maybe, there will be Version 3.0? In The Suicide Squad having a purpose makes all the difference. Just saying.
Watch the official trailer:
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Photo credit: Shutterstock, modified
