Written and directed by James Gunn, and produced by Peter Safran and Charles Rover, The Suicide Squad may have been a box office fail, but its fast-paced plot and well-written characters certainly made it a success compared to DC’s 2016 predecessor, Suicide Squad. Within the first 10 minutes, The Suicide Squad introduces all the main characters, or at least, a group of characters the audience is made to think are the main characters. 

Naturally, with outstanding actors such as Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Joel Kinnaman (Colonel Rick Flag), Sean Gunn (Weasel), Flula Borg (Javelin), Pete Davidson (Blackguard), Mayling Ng (Mongal), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), Nathan Fillion (T. K. D.), and Michael Rooker (Savant), this movie is full of fast banter and humor.

As this team is exposed by Blackguard on the island, everyone but Harley Quinn and Colonel Flag is murdered by the inhabitants. This leads to the reveal of the actual main characters, Idris Elba (Bloodsport), John Cena (Peacemaker), Daniela Melchior (Ratcatcher 2), David Dastmalchian (Polka-Dot Man), Sylvester Stallone (King Shark), as well as Robbie and Kinnaman carrying on as their respective characters. 

While this movie is very similar to Suicide Squad, Gunn took the failures and combined them with his knowledge gained from directing box office hits such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy 2, offering characters that were not only diverse, but also extremely humanized. 

For instance, while Harley didn’t have much change, her character when compared to David Ayer’s Suicide Squad is very different, not only in her confidence but also in the way the audience is meant to see her. She is no longer just a sex object for the Joker, but someone capable of making her own decisions. Elba’s character is also a good example of The Suicide Squad’s character development. Bloodsport goes from a deadbeat father to showing leadership and that he actually cared for his team. 

Adding to an incredible cast of characters is the actors’ chemistry with each other. While Suicide Squad’s team showed their relationship growth by the end of the movie, this squad simply felt closer from the beginning. Many of Bloodsport and Peacemaker’s banters portray an underlying sense of comradery, with both of the characters often ending the arguments with a friendly handshake. Harley and Flag have also become closer due to their history, and Flag cements their bond when he is shown creating an elaborate way to rescue Harley from the enemy.

After watching this movie, it is evident how much care went into its creation, and the way the audience finds themselves rooting for the protagonists shows that The Suicide Squad clearly outshines its predecessor in every way. When searching for a light-hearted yet gory action film, The Suicide Squad is a perfect recommendation.