Comical climax, muddled screenplay, under-cooked character arcs pull down an otherwise better attempt from DC in recent times

Rating: 5/10 (15 August 2016)

Put together a fantastic cast: Check; Bring in fan favorite cameos: Check; Get an entertaining and not so gloomy script: Sort of; Create a terrifying and terrific antagonist: Meh!!; While it gets some things right in comparison to recent DC offerings (apart from the Batman Trilogy), to see it in the bigger scheme of things in terms of re- watchability, scope for a sequel etc., it doesn't seem promising especially with a contrived script, disconnected sequences, uninterested Will Smith (save for some witty one-liners). Saving grace in the form of Margot Robbie carries the entire movie on her shoulders for a while, but there is only so much one can do when it is weighed down by poor editing, generic script and uninventive plot.
Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), a clandestine Government agent puts together a team of imprisoned supervillians to participate in dangerous covert missions in exchange for lenient prison terms. When one of the recruit June Moone a.k.a. the Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) goes rogue and threatens to destroy the Earth (Duh!), the team comprising of Deadshot (a bored Will Smith), Harley Quinn (an excellent Margot Robbie), Boomerang (Jai Courtney), Diablo (Jay Hernandez) and Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) dubbed Task Force X led by decorated Commander Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman). Once off the leash, will they resort to their evil ways or fight as a team they were hoped to?
There are definitely some positives compared to the dull and gloomy Batman vs. Superman debacle - cheeky one-liners, a very original and different take on Joker by Jared Leto, a superb rendition of Harley Quinn by Margot Robbie, par visual effects and not too many dull phases. There were two main failures and a number of sub-failures - a run-of-the- mill plot, sub-par villain, under-cooked backstories and farce of a climax. It could have had a slightly positive effect had it released 5 years ago, but that's not the case and it already looks dated. The charismatic superstar Will Smith is reduced to a side-kick and doesn't even have as much screen time or presence as Margot Robbie which is surprising but not out of place.
Comical climax, muddled screenplay, under-cooked character arcs pull down an otherwise better attempt from DC in recent times.