Film Review: "The Suicide Squad" (2021).

"They're dying to save the world" in The Suicide Squad. This superhero film written and directed by James Gunn and based on the DC Comics team Suicide Squad. It is a standalone sequel to Suicide Squad (2016) and the tenth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

In March 2016, despite the difficult production and eventual polarizing response, a sequel to Suicide Squad (2016) was expected with David Ayer and Will Smith expected to direct and star for a 2017 filming start after completing their work on Bright (2017). However, ultimately, Ayer left the project. By mid February 2017, Warner Bros. began searching for a new director for the sequel, and were considering Mel Gibson, Ruben Fleischer, Daniel Espinosa, Jonathan Levine, David S. Goyer and Guy Ritchie to direct the sequel. In March, Adam Cozad was hired to pen the script. In early July, Jaume Collet-Serra became the new frontrunner to direct, Zak Penn had pitched a new story treatment for the film to Warner Bros., and both Smith and Robbie were set to reprise their roles. However, later in July, Collet-Serra left the project to direct Jungle Cruise (2021). In August, it was announced that production was not expected to begin until Smith completed his work on Aladdin (2019) and Gemini Man (2019). In September, Gavin O'Connor was hired to direct and co-write the film with Anthony Tambakis. However, in early October, O'Connor left the project to direct The Way Back (2020). In October 2018, Gunn was hired to write and possibly direct. Warner Bros. had been interested in recruiting him for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) immediately after his dismissal by Disney as director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) for his old controversial tweets. The day after he was hired by Warner Bros., Disney decided to reinstate him as director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In January 2019, the film was officially titled The Suicide Squad and was scheduled for release on August 6, 2021. In late February, Smith was revealed to no longer be in the film due to scheduling issues. By late September, it was announced that Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis and Jai Courtney would reprise their roles, with Idris Elba, John Cena, Sylvester Stallone, Peter Capaldi, David Dastmalchian, Michael Rooker, Alice Braga, Pete Davidson, Nathan Fillion, Sean Gunn, Taika Waititi and Storm Reid as newcomers. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late February 2020. Filming took place at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as Panama and Havana.

The characters are great and the movie is often very funny thanks to the talented cast who couldn't be more perfectly cast.

The film can be very emotionally affecting and disturbing, which might not suit everyone's tastes, but it's also an absorbing, entertaining and sometimes funny deviation from the usual superhero fodder.

Simon says The Suicide Squad receives:

Also, see my reviews for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Zack Snyder's Justice League.