A Magnificent Mess That Is Both Extraordinarily Fun And Entertaining DESPITE Itself..

Rating: 10/10 (12 August 2016)

In SQUAD We Trust!
I've never seen a movie like this. Coming out of the cinema I didn't know what to think. It's both Incredible yet Inept, Amazing yet Awful, SPECTACULAR yet substandard.
If I had to describe it in one sentence, I'd say: "It's a very flawed film that somehow still manages to be a tremendously entertaining ride from start to finish!"
First off, I.LOVE.THESE.VILLAINS. The "Worst of the Worst." This might be the definition of character driven piece. Margot Robbie steals the show in what I consider her best performance yet as former Psychologist turned Psychopath Harleen "Harley Quinn" Quinzel. Fans of the comic's and the award winning cartoon B:TAS will rejoice as Robbie brings Quinn to life, perfectly capturing the comically quirky yet crazy essence that has made the character so popular for all this time.
Will Smith SHINES As Floyd Lawton AKA Deadshot, an assassin who misses his daughter.. But NEVER misses a shot. Although Smith's acting doesn't stray far from his usual comfort zone, I will say that it's been a LONG time since I've seen him THIS charismatic and funny. Given great dialogue, Smith deliver's it effortlessly, finally flexing those comedic chops that have fallen rather flat throughout the years.
Viola Davis IS Amanda Waller. Cold Blooded. Cruel. Calculating. This is 'The Wall'.
Jay Hernandez is another stand out. Surprisingly, El Diablo was a substantial part of the film and added some much needed heart. I can't say more without delving into spoiler territory but let's just say he provides a 'fire' for the squad (pun intended).
AND Finally, Jai Courtney!.. I can't believe I'm going to say this BUT... Courtney's HILARIOUS in this. His Captain Boomerang is a fun alcoholic who just isn't given enough screen time, in my opinion. I LOVED what I saw and I hope he makes further appearances in the DCU!
Everybody else was "Okay". Killer Croc got some laughs in my screening but I found him rather bland and dull. Delevingne's Enchantress was entertaining in certain portions but overall was weak and forgettable. Makes you wonder why Ayers had her strip naked and run in the woods at night if this is the best they could do with the character. Slipknots very minor, Flag is boring, and Katana is criminally underused.
Now, i'm sure everyone's wondering about Jared Leto's Joker. Unfortunately, he's given so little to do that you really don't know what to make him. AND THIS is where this film starts to fall apart.
The Editing and Pacing is horrendous. The tone is all over the place. Ayers has said they had 6 different cuts before they settled on the final version and you can tell. It literally seems like 6 different movies "stitched" together in an attempt to form one cohesive piece. I don't know who's responsible for this but whoever it was should probably be fired. NO scenes are fleshed out as the movie jumps so much, it never lets you soak in anything as it attempts to almost drive itself to a very lackluster finale. I think the term is "Franken-Flick."
This is what hurt Joker as well. He seemed like he was certainly from a different cut. Leto's portrayal is unique but you are never really prepared to see him on screen and when you do, the editing is so poor and jarring, you're left confused as to what exactly you just saw.
According to multiple sources including Leto himself, there was enough footage shot for a Joker film yet he's reduced to 10 min. of total (and scattered) screen time. The scenes in question are said to be from the immensely popular "Mad Love" story line that showcased the origin of Harley Quinn. Hopefully we get an extended cut with these scenes included.
It's a shame because there are parts where Leto completely disappears and all I see is The Joker from the panels of the comics. Then there are parts where he seems more like sad clown than clown prince of crime (More on that Later).
The plot of this movie starts okay, but turns incredibly generic and simple fairly quick. You've seen it a thousand times before in a thousand comic book movies before. Nothing really to talk about here.
It's the same for the villain. Basically, generic comic book villain #126.
Overall, this is a good movie. I know it seems hard to believe with my critique towards the end but that should tell you just HOW GREAT these characters are. Perfection personified. This is a very enjoyable and entertaining flick succeeding in finally etching a solid entry into the DCU. I am looking forward to seeing more of these characters in the future!
Biggest Problem: Joker and Harley's relationship. It's no secret that it isn't the "best." For lack of a better term, He beats her. It's Harley's Stockholm Syndrome that helps make her a more sympathetic character.
This is a chore trait to these characters as their relationship should give you a glimpse into both their psyche AND their psychotic nature. I fail to see how people can't stomach things like this but are perfectly fine with murder. The lower common denominator of the population just can't seem to separate "Portrayal" from "Glorification" but that's the world we live in I suppose.
Here, Joker uncharacteristically loves Harley. Early cut's did have the abusive aspect of their relationship, however audiences tested poorly so these scenes were reedited while some were removed to make Joker and Harley appear more caring, apparently forgetting these are villains.
I rate this movie 10/10 just for the sheer fun and entertainment I had watching these crazy characters together.
As a film overall, I'd give it an 8/10, excelling past BvS and MoS as the best DC movie SINCE the Dark Knight.