If a dysfunctional family you love were a movie

Rating: 7/10 (5 August 2016)

After you walk out of the theater, you will develop a dysfunctional relationship with a movie that you will hate to hate. That is precisely what this movie is - dysfunctional as a whole, yet a good amount of brilliant when dissected holistically. In spite of the top-notch entertainment value, the A- acting skills, the sporadic humor, and the relentless theatrics, Suicide Squad's greatest strength still lies in DCEU's fan-base; and in turn, the filmmaker's and the studio's inherent need to satisfy this fan-base's thirst. While in SS' case, this need definitely falls short of quenching DC-fans' now entirely parched throat, it gets brownie points for trying its level best to live up to expectations. Suicide Squad doesn't deserve all the hate it gets - as a matter of fact, if it weren't for the pretext of failed DC movies and the pressure to release a hit, Suicide Squad would've fared as a considerably above average movie outside the DCEU. Many factors contribute to making Suicide Squad a successful commercial potboiler with adequate substance (yet far more outweighing style), a few of which are:
1) The characters: Everyone plays their part with undeniable panache. Jai Courtney has objectively redeemed himself of all past Terminator sins, Will Smith is as dynamic as a convicted hit-man with a sense of humor can get, Margot Robbie is a delectable treat to watch thanks to her timing, expressions, delivery, and flawless Harley Quin-ness, and The Joker is impeccable, for as long as he is permitted to be on screen.
2) The CGI: It has its good, it has its bad, and it has its terrible. The good fortunately overshadows the rest.
3) The chemistry: While not as endearing and easy to believe as GotG's characters', all of the squad share moments that bring us as viewers closer to them, and themselves to each other.
4) The theatrics: Ayer knew exactly what he was doing. While any comic book movie consists of a certain amount of pandering to its niche audience, to balance both your own ideas with the expected theatrics and heroism from a superhero movie, is a task in itself, one of the few that David Ayer nails right in the head.
But that's where the upsides of a $13 ticket end. Here is the travesty of pitfalls:
The Script and the Screenplay: Supernatural enchantress, that is a 'witch'? What were they thinking? It isn't like they even balanced this pastiche with thoughtful and intelligent realism - they went all out, making even a comic book fan's appetite for surrealism shake its head in disapproval. The story was terrible, the premise was wafer-thin, the screenplay a bare minimum of okay, and the dialogues were a let- down.
The flaws: In a franchise that succeeds the likes of Nolan's Batman, you would expect at least a little pedantic need for perfection. Suicide Squad completely lacks this, and does not even seem to hesitate when a few of its scenes blatantly fall short of a large movie's standards in terms of story, screenplay, and direction.
Yet in spite of it all, the movie is quite easily passable as a popcorn flick, and deserves a chance if you're looking to spend two hours on a movie you will definitely enjoy, but also dislike it for its many flaws.