Movie Date: Suicide Squad (PG13)
Margot Robbie is the true star of this squad — both men and women can’t get enough of her
STARRING: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Viola Davis, Cara Delevingne, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Scott Eastwood, Karen Fukuhara
DIRECTOR: David Ayer
THE SKINNY: US intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Davis) sets up a special task force of the deadliest criminals so that they can take on Superman if ever he decides to go rogue. The motley crew of anti-heroes — Deadshot (Smith), Harley Quinn (Robbie), Enchantress (Delevingne), Diablo (Hernandez), Captain Boomerang (Courtney) and Killer Croc (Akinnuoye-Agbaje) — are put to the test when an evil entity decides to wipe out humanity.
MARS
JASON JOHNSON
Remember Batman V Superman?
Remember how Wonder Woman was so much cooler than both the Caped Crusader and the Man Of Steel?
Well, with Suicide Squad, we have another DC superhero flick where the gals totally outshine the guys.
I mean, it's not even close.
Smith is totally miscast as Deadshot, an assassin with a soft spot for his daughter.
You never believe for a second that he's a badass.
Courtney is an embarrassment as Boomerang.
The tattooed thug Diablo is simply loathsome.
As much as I personally love Leto, his Joker rings hollow for me.
On the other hand, Robbie kills it as Harley Quinn - sexy, sassy and psycho, yet often sympathetic.
There's a mischief and malice in her eyes utterly lacking in the dudes.
Delevingne is glorious as Enchantress.
Though she's a gorgeous girl, there's something innately goofy about her, and every time she's on screen, it's a party.
The visuals are flashy and the story is fine, but a flick like this lives or dies on the strength of its characters.
The girls get five stars. The guys get one.
It all averages out to an average movie.
Rating: 3/5
VENUS
JOANNE SOH
If there's a movie that can reboot the DC Extended Universe after the disastrous Batman V Superman, Suicide Squad has to be it.
It's fun, irreverent, action-packed and not over-the-top despite its crazy rogues gallery.
Ayer does a fantastic job in fleshing out each character's backstory - no mean feat considering there are about 10 in the ensemble.
The story is gripping and the use of Batman is spot-on. The tone is well-set, and the action is not mindless.
I truly enjoy letting the villains take the spotlight and examining how good people may be more evil than the supposed bad guys.
That said, this is not The Avengers.
While Joss Whedon was able to give us a cohesive unit there, this squad is rather disjointed. There is also obvious chemistry among the cast, but that doesn't mean they make a great team.
Maybe it's because I just can't connect with the majority of them.
Smith and Robbie are the primary players, but it is the latter who rises to the occasion and is so convincing as the ditzy psychopath who still has much heart.
She is indeed a revelation, and when you put her next to Leto, sparks really fly.
Rating: 3/5
THE CONSENSUS: Margot Robbie is the true star of this squad — both men and women can’t get enough of her
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