The fantastic felons of Suicide Squad have got soul and they’re superbad.
There’s both undeniable sincerity and an over-the-top punk rock vibe to writer/director David Ayer’s completely bonkers ode to supervillains ( *½ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters nationwide Friday) tapped to contribute to the greater good. It helps flesh out the comic-book world of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, plus makes a bunch of obscure outsiders just as engaging and fun to watch as that well-known Dark Knight.
Clay Enos
Deadshot ( Will Smith) and Harley Quinn ( Margot Robbie) discuss the mission in ’Suicide Squad.’
With powerful metahumans and vigilantes inhabiting Earth ( Ben Affleck’s Batman turns up more than you’d expect) , the government needs a plan to deal with them. Enter the ruthless Amanda Waller ( Viola Davis) , who has taken it upon herself to recruit Enchantress ( Cara Delevingne) , an archaeologist possessed by an ancient witch, as the first member of Task Force X. Its modus operandi is to send its members on deadly missions. And if they don’t come back? Oh, well.
USA TODAY
Bad or evil? ’Suicide Squad’ blurs the line
With shades of Guardians of the Galaxy and the original Ghostbusters, Suicide Squad takes its ne’er-do-wells — led by the assassin Deadshot ( Will Smith) and oddball bad girl Harley Quinn ( Margot Robbie) — from their Louisiana supermax home to battling a magical enemy. Alliances are formed, bonds are shaken, and the group is constantly on the edge of implosion.
Because of the size of Ayer’s cast, some of the more interesting characters are shorted, especially samurai warrior Katana ( Karen Fukuhara) and Australian hoodlum Captain Boomerang ( Jai Courtney) — though the latter has a quick run-in with a superhero that knowing comics fans will adore.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Jared Leto stars as a contemporary Joker in ’Suicide Squad.’
Deadshot is the movie’s emotional heart, and it’s Smith’s best role in years — he gets to showcase some of Concussion’s deep emotion but with that old Independence Day swagger. Jay Hernandez similarly impresses as El Diablo, a fiery L.A. gang leader with a horrific backstory.