SUICIDE SQUAD (2016)

David Ayer’s film from his screenplay based on characters in the DC Comics universe works quite well for the first 45 minutes before starting to spin somewhat out of control. I will always say that in order for a fantasy/science fiction film to work there has to be enough credible characters and situations for one to believe the story happening on screen. For instance you have to believe that a boy can fly or else the story of Peter Pan won’t work at all. The problem here is that it works part of the time and then it doesn’t, causing one to lose interest one moment before being pulled back into the story when it regains control again and becomes believable. It makes for a somewhat uneven film going experience even though it seems to work a good deal of the time thanks in large part to the cast which includes Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto as the Joker (somewhat wasted here in a role that seems to be more on the sidelines than anyone else), Joel Kinnaman, (THE KILLING), Jai Courtney (excellent here), Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Viola Davis in a rather surprisingly large role, Adam Beach and Cara Delevingne. Better than BATMAN VS SUPERMAN but certainly not in the same league as last summer’s excellent ANTMAN (a Marvel Film by the way) this should satisfy many of the genre’s fans while not scoring well with film critics or those preferring more sophisticated fare.