Shaky Opening, but Fantastic Character Work

Rating: 6/10 (5 August 2016)

The movie starts very shaky. Editing and pacing feels completely off and the character introductions take a bit too long thanks to flashbacks being interweaved with the introductory scene of Waller proposing the squad's formation to her peers. This long sequence of introductions also immediately paints who's important and who isn't. For instance Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and Enchantress each get multiple long flashbacks, while Killer Croc, Boomerang, and Diablo just get a little nod to their history, and Slipknot is left out entirely (spoiler, he's the red shirt). Even after the introductions, the set-up still isn't complete, as they then need to assemble the team and create an antagonist for them to go after. After that's over though, and the action starts to kick in, it's nigh relentless. I mean, there really isn't much plot here at all; Waller proposes the formation of the squad, a villain starts to destroy the city, and the squad is hastily put together and sent in.
Okay, so plot isn't the film's strong suit, but it's linear simplicity is what makes it as enjoyable as it is. Just sit back and enjoy the craziness that fills the screen. What Suicide Squad lacks in plot, it more than makes up for with character development, particularly for Harley and Deadshot, but Diablo also gets quite a pivotal moment as well. Their flashbacks don't end after the introductions, as we get a few more for each them that delves into their backstory a bit more to show how they got to where they are now. Of course Harley Quinn gets a lot of attention, but Diablo's development is particularly heartbreaking.
But back to Harley Quinn. She's a massively popular character and of course Suicide Squad spends a lot of time looking at her. This is her first ever Live-Action incarnation, so I got a massive kick out of seeing her transition from Harleen Quinzel to the villainess we know and love a la Mad Love. Also seeing her and Joker together was exquisite, and I didn't want those scenes to end. Give me a whole movie of Joker and Harley and I'll chuck money at the screen indiscriminately. I particularly loved the recreation of their most iconic comic cover, with Harley in her full Animated Universe costume. Margot Robbie was also probably my favourite casting choice for her (living at least; Brittany Murphy would've been 10/10 perfect, but alas), and she did not disappoint. She managed to delve deep into the character and embrace both her playful, flirtatious side, and her more vulnerable and human side as well. Harley is a character beyond the red-and-black scheme and the high-pitched voice, and Margot Robbie proves that once and for all. Give me more Margot Robbie Harley Quinn WB! More!
Then there's Jared Leto's Joker. He features a lot in the promotional material, but don't think that means he plays a pivotal role. I was personally expecting little more than a cameo, but he certainly gets more screen time than that. He's just like a minor annoyance in the background who chiefly appears in the flashbacks. By the third act he's almost completely forgotten about, and early on his presence is literally just as a companion to Harley (somewhat amusingly). As for Leto himself, I can't say I hated his portrayal. He's definitely the sociopathic Joker from more recent iterations; violent, unpredictable, and creepy. However, let's settle this now, he still wasn't as good as Heath Ledger's interpretation.
There is quite a bit of humour in Suicide Squad as well. I mean it could've gone further and become DC's version of Deadpool, or Guardians of the Galaxy, or even Kick-Ass, and in some ways it absolutely was, but they could've embraced it wholly and gone all-out black comedy with it and I guarantee it would've worked. They didn't, but it's still a very funny movie. Jai Courtney in particular was great with his comedy delivery as Captain Boomerang. I mean I'm not exactly the biggest Jai Courtney fan in the world, but he did do a fantastic job of Boomerang, and I'll admit competed with Robbie's Harley Quinn as one of the most entertaining characters of the movie.
The laughs are balanced out really well with an ear to the more tragic and emotional side of this ragtag group of supervillains as well. It's not all super serious and dark, but when it is, it's actually quite heartbreaking. El Diablo in particular has a really heartbreaking history that rattles the whole squad in their down time. Harley, as I mentioned, also shows her more vulnerable side on a couple of occasions as well, while Will Smith's Deadshot is rooted to humanity thanks to his daughter. Floyd's always been one of the more human members of the team in the comics (or those he features in, at least), and the movie makes no difference there at all.
I could talk a little more about it's place in the extended universe, or the use of it's soundtrack (hit and miss), or delve a bit more into the acting work, but I don't feel there's anything interesting enough to say about any of it. Suicide Squad is not the complete trainwreck professional critics would have you believe (surprise, surprise). It's opening moments are badly paced, mismatched, and overly-long, but it starts to find itself from the second act onwards. Plot is so-so at best and the action is entertaining but unmemorable, but the character work is sublime. Every character gets their moment to shine, some more than others I'll admit, but everyone gets their turn. I give Suicide Squad a very entertaining 7/10.