Third Times The Charm

Suicide Squad

Spoiler free review.

So here we have the third movie in the newly launched DC movie universe, and you may rightly wonder here this fits in among the previous movies.

Well to start off, this movie is set in the post-Dawn of justice universe, Superman is dead, meta-humans are popping up ( not all of them good guys ) and the Justice league is still a glint in Bruce Wayne’s eye. So of course the logical course of action is to turn to a misfit group of bad guys to battle a world threatening bad guy.

But first we have to meet our team, a process gotten out the way very quickly. Amongst barrage of classic songs which I won’t go into we are introduced to the collective, oft misunderstood villains. Standouts are a show stealing crazy, sexy Harley Quinn, played with relish by Margot Robbie, and Will Smith’s Deadshot.

At this point the movie turns very Dirty Dozenish, amongst the introductions there are plenty of flashbacks including a few cameos.

But just as you get comfy this film becomes very reminiscent of Escape from New York, throwing you into countless action set pieces to show off this team of misfits until we reach our inevitable

showdown.

So, the good points? Each member of this team is given adequate screen time, apart from a throw away member that you know is just cannon fodder. We get plenty of origin stories and no member is

more important than the other, this is a true ensemble cast, egos having been left at the door.

The visuals are just amazing in this movie too, its clear where the money has gone with carnage erupting in scene after scene.

Now to the bad. Despite Harley Quinn being a highlight, some fans will be dislike the nature of her relationship with the Joker. Here by the way we get flashbacks of what could of been a classic stand

alone film. This is becoming a habit in DC, much loved comic arcs and imagery are thrown onto the screen just for effect, when with care they could of been successful films in their own right.

So we come to Jared Leto’s much hyped Joker. Sadly there is very little to impress here, yes Mr J looks the part and is supposed to be a continuous menacing presence throughout. But with little to work

with in the script and limited screen time Joker fails to shine on the big screen. Here we have the clown prince of crime, but sadly he is lacking the menace of Heath Ledger’s psychopathic anarchist or the

presence of Nicholson. I know many will disagree and maybe this Joker has a bright future, but for me this just another wasted opportunity.

Sadly this film has a fair few issues, gratuitous cameos, poorly used classic soundtrack, and uneven pacing makes this feel like two or three films in one.

If I can compare this to any other comic book movie it would be Guardians of the Galaxy, again we have a misfit crew reluctantly saving the day, but for me Marvel pulled their misfit crew off with a

little more style.

Oh, and the mid-credits sting? Don't bother. This scene adds nothing to the future of the DCU. Where Marvel uses these moments at their best to foreshadow future projects, this is just a

rehash of what we already know from Dawn of Justice.

But I do hate to be negative, this movie has pulled off a tricky task, bringing little known characters to the screen in a stunning way, and no doubt there will be an appetite for more, If DC can find room in

their schedule.

Overall score. 6 0ut of 10. I was entertained and hypnotised by Harley Quinn but underwhelmed.