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The Suicide Squad

Ah yes. The Suicide Squad. I know it did well at the box office, but I'm shocked they got another go at this particular set of characters. Even more surprising is that they lured James Gunn over to direct. Clearly they wanted some of that Marvel-ness injected into their movies. I don't think that is debatable. Did it work? Well, to me, not really.

This is a vastly superior movie to the first Suicide Squad, but I have a couple of problems with this film. I'm going to go in no particular order.

Scope. I don't like the scope of this movie. When this particular set of characters are squaring off against Starro, you've gone in the wrong direction. That is a Justice League level villain, not the Suicide Squad. These movies are better served with the characters doing black ops operations against more normal humans. The final battle is ridiculous in all the wrong ways, I feel. 

Last movie they fought a powerful witch, this movie a five story tall alien. That does not fit at all.

Another point. Harley Quinn. She's a fantastic character and I love Margot Robbie truly embracing and advocating for the character. She doesn't belong in the Suicide Squad in the movies or the comic books. By it's nature, the Suicide Squad as a concept was a way to kill off Z-List characters, which this movie does. The problem with Harley Quinn is she is surrounded in plot armor. There is zero chance that she actually dies in these movies and they power her up and down depending on the situation. I think her inclusion is a fundamental flaw. Also, to be honest, she is above this. I know she is here because she is a beloved character and meant to elevate this movie, but I think it brings her down. She can carry her own movie, so she does not need to be part of this stitched together cast.

I think with this movie, I am now seeing the James Gunn formula for success and I think I am tired of it. He was hired to bring his brand of filmmaking and he does that. The problem is, we've seen this same sort of thing too many times now. It feels like a lesser Guardians of the Galaxy. He has his cutesy, on the nose musical choices which is exhausting. It takes me out of the movie. Everyone is full of quips, which is the Marvel bread and butter. Don't get me wrong, I'm getting tired of that in the Marvel movies too. This just felt like Guardians Vol. 2 and not the first Guardians of the Galaxy. He is trending in the wrong direction.

The principal cast was good and there were some funny jokes. However, they definitely showed all the best bits in the trailers. 

Did I like this movie? I thought it was okay. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I'm not going to recommend it though. Do so at your own risk.

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