What a Difference a "The" Makes?

The new (confusingly named) movie, The Suicide Squad, is better than Suicide Squad. But that's an inevitability, not a review. So what do I really think of James Gunn's new... sequel? Reboot? Spin-off? Installment in the DC universe. In a nutshell, I'd say I was left with the overall feeling that it was a mediocre movie with some very bright spots in it.

It's mediocre in how dutifully it adheres to the superhero formula without really making enough use of what's inherently different in its premise. This is supposed to be a movie starring villains, the "worst of the worst," but we really don't get much villainy -- and arguably none more extreme than director Amanda Waller, whose callous methods and low threshold for forgiveness are the only things in the movie to actually illicit horrified reactions from other characters. This gang of baddies is generally pretty noble, and to me their violence seems more pronounced more because this is a rated R movie than because they're villains.

It's also mediocre in how often James Gunn borrows from his Guardians of the Galaxy movies in the creation of this one. I suppose conspicuous needle drops were part of the formula in the first Suicide Squad, though the set list here absolutely could be sold as "Awesome Mix, Vol. 3" and no one would think it odd. King Shark is Groot with a slightly greater vocabulary, a CG bruiser voiced by an actor known mainly for meathead action roles.

But I have to admit that the parts of this movie that are good are really good. One, as you'd expect, is the only thing that was good about the first Suicide Squad movie: Margot Robbie. The best scenes of the movie are all Harley Quinn's, from a key plot twist to the best prolonged action sequence. She gets the best one-liners. And Margot Robbie delivers it all with glee.

Anyone who has seen Blockers knows the comic chops of John Cena. This movie uses them even more effectively than his action skills (which, of course, it also does). His banter with the other characters -- particularly Idris Elba's Bloodsport -- is a highlight of the movie.

The Polka-Dot Man is another surprise highlight, though one I think I could have used even more of. The silly-on-the-surface character pairs well with actor David Dastmalchian's tormented performance, and that brand of goofiness works better throughout than the CG characters that are supposed to be the comic relief here.

Still, there are plenty of missed opportunities here too. The script relies on Idris Elba's own considerable charisma more than it effectively establishes his character. Viola Davis is once again wasted. The inevitable giant CG climax is a little weirder and grosser than usual, but -- typical of a superhero movie -- doesn't make the stakes feel very real or important.

So overall, I think I'd call The Suicide Squad a B-. That does certainly put it in the realm of "worth a watch" (especially if you like violent action-comedy). Still, it feels very much like a sequel that's not as good as the original... meaning Guardians of the Galaxy, not Suicide Squad.