Suicide Squad: its the Harley Quinn show

Whats there not to like about Suicide Squad? On paper, it should excel in every way. Come on, the leagues of superhero are just boooooriiiing. Avengers need to fight themselves to make things relevant. I am not looking forward to JLA either. Defenders on TV? Somehow, I expect the individual series on Netflix would be better. Then, theoretically a group of super villain forced to fight to serve the country should see some kick-ass movie. So, where did Suicide Squad went wrong?



 The movie began with an interesting opening by introducing each of the super villain. All of them seems lethal on their own which was the reason why we like them so much. Then came along Amanda Waller from Argus, secret agency tasked to assemble the team to battle future threat to the good old USA. Putting small remote control bomb in their neck is suppose to make them obey the government's order and do their "suicidal" mission, hence, the name suicide squad. Along the way, while trying to control the Enchantress, the ancient witch, she manage to break away and wreak havoc. So, the rest of the story follows the team in the effort of stopping her. The end.

Again, where did the movie went wrong? The action is too fast to observed, the character building is too artificial if ever present.  Not much was known bout Captain Boomerang, the crocodile man is there for the one liners, and the man with the knots is just there so the story can kill him early to prove a point. They try to create a sad background story to El Diablo, the villain who control fire, but it just felt flat. Deadshot, the assassin who never miss may be portrayed as the main protagonist but seeing a villain turn to good just do not work. (do I need to point out how Heroes fell apart the moment Syler became one of the good guys?). The only saving grace is Harley Quinn, Joker's insane lover. She basically steal the show with her.... madness. Although I still do not like how they sissified Joker, making him equally madly in love with Quinn ( come on, Joker is crazyyyyyyy), but seeing Quinn madness in her devotion to Joker, works well. She basically steal every scene she is in, until she decided to rejoin the team thinking Joker is dead. I do not think that is how a mad person deal with grief, by channeling it to be altruist.


Then again, the movie is entertaining. But given so many holes in the plot, the the paper thin plot, the superficial character development, it does entertain. But, just do not expect a lot.


ratings: 2 half poink!
comments: I simply prefer Suicide Squad portrayed in the Arrow. Although Deadshot there also turn out to be not so villainous, but at least they have much more time for development of his character. And Katana there is much better.