"A whole lotta pretty in a whole lot of crazy."

Rating: 6/10 (4 August 2016)

The title of this review, like Harley Quinn, sums up Suicide Squad. Broken down in parts, Suicide Squad opens with a bang, meanders in the middle with the urgency of a root canal, and closes with another bang. The only problem with the closing bang is it comes in the form of one of Joker's gag guns. (Don't worry that's not a spoiler, just a metaphor.)
The film gets quite a bit right in the backstory of the major characters, particularly Deadshot and Harley. These two characters, along with Diablo, are a strength of the movie throughout development-wise, played by Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Jay Hernandez. A problem with the other characters, save for a few Boomerang jokes, is their utility; at times they aren't given much to do and they seem like mere tagalongs without their own agency.
Much will be made of Jared Leto's Joker, and I believe he does an OK job. At times he reminds me too much of the mob bosses in the comics he works so hard to upend, but Leto is a great actor and I think he will have much to add in future installments. I think one problem with him is that he was marketed so heavily, when the concentration on the plot should be on the Squad.
Speaking of the plot...another weakness. I can't say I cared much for Amanda Waller's (Viola Davis) rationale for having a bunch of crackpots lead a demolition squad, and the results are pretty predictable. The middle of the film is a bit awkward as far as team chemistry goes, even among Deadshot and Harley. Just when the film comes close to saying something profound, it reverts back to oddly-times jokes and head nods.
In the end, this is probably DC's best attempt in the Extended Universe at something original and in general, even though it ends rather predictably. (A quick side note here is that I'm talking about original theatrical releases, since BvS Uncut is ultimately superior to this and I have reviewed that also.)
2.5 out of 4 stars sounds about right.