The third featured in the DC Extended Universe film franchise, Suicide Squad, is written and directed by David Ayer. It features an ensemble cast and a killer music score from Steven Price.

Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) wants to create Task Force X, a group of supervillains that the US government would use a Black-Ops group to be prepared for a world-shattering event, such as superheroes going rogue. Along with Colonel Flag (Joel Kinnaman), she heads to the Belle Reve Special Security Barracks where she meets her recruits. Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), Slipknot (Adam Beach), and Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) are chosen. They are soon put into action when Midway City is attacked by the magical Enchantress (Cara Delevingne), who awakens her brother Incubus to awaken a dark army. Amanda Waller gets the green light for Task Force X and uses the criminals, along with the assassin Katana (Karen Fukuhara) to infiltrate Midway City and prepare for the fight of their lives. Meanwhile, Harley Quinn’s lover and partner in crime Joker (Jared Leto) are trying to find her by any means necessary.

This movie has been taking a lot of heat from critics, but I think they are overthinking it. Sure, the story is kind of basic and offers absolutely nothing special nor the movie is not an award winner by any stretch of the means. It is essentially a toy commercial. With this in mind, it is a fun and entertaining. It essentially one long toy commercial, but if you skip past the Joker (more on that later), it is a good popcorn flick to turn off your brain.

Margot Robbie, Will Smith, and Joel Kinnaman offer the best performances in the film. They have the best character development, dialogue, and overall story-arc in the movie. I also liked Karen Fukuhara, but she does not have very many scenes in the theatrical version, but in the director’s cut, her character us expanded on in the director’s cut.

I do have this major qualm with the movie. Jared Leto is awful as the Joker. He lacks the menacing presence of Jack Nicholson. The terrifying laughter of Mark Hamill. The horrifying personality of Heath Ledger or even the frightening swagger of Cameron Monaghan. It is so over the top that it hurts your eyes. The costume is poorly designed. The tattoos are dumb. His laugh is cringe-inducing and his acting is subpar (at best). Also, his behind-the-scene antics are full-on weird and creepy.

Bottom line, Suicide Squad is basic, it is a fun thrill ride. While it does not add anything substantial to the DCEU, like nothing at all, but just watch it on a rainy day.

FAVORITE QUOTE: We’re bad guys. It’s what we do.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Intense violence, foul language, and suggestive themes

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, or novel you would like me to review. While you are at it, check out my movie reviews of X-Men: Apocalypse and Star Trek Beyond. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more posts like this one.

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This article has been updated from a previous version.