Suicide Squad, the third installment in the DC Extended Universe, centers on a group of villains assembled to work for someone else. Like Batman v Superman earlier this year, it faced largely negative reviews from critics and divided fans. I approached it with considerable interest because, unlike many others, I'd genuinely enjoyed the previous DCEU films—both Man of Steel and Batman v Superman. Unfortunately, this one felt like a jumbled mess. The film’s structure was jarring; the editing seemed chaotic. It gave the impression that they had a completed version but then removed scenes, shortened the runtime, and added others, resulting in a disjointed final product. Transitions were abrupt, including the flashbacks. Certain sequences appeared to be later additions—likely reshoots—and felt out of place, particularly the elevator scene involving Harley Quinn. The music choices also seemed random; some complemented their scenes, while most felt tacked on, presumably to inject a more upbeat tone. There was a striking disparity in how much development each squad member received, with some characters largely ignored, others given minimal lines, and still others receiving significant screen time. Overall, it felt heavily influenced by studio interference. The film's priorities were also misplaced; despite the title, too much focus landed on elements that seemed extraneous. The end-of-the-world plotline was generic, uninteresting, and ultimately unnecessary. The villain wasn’t compelling, and their movements were odd in a negative way. The romantic connection between Joker and Harley felt forced and could have been cut to allow for more development of the squad's dynamic. Regarding the Joker, his portrayal and persona didn’t resonate with me. Jared Leto seemed to be overacting at times. I did catch glimpses of the Joker I was hoping for, but they were quickly overshadowed by an exaggerated performance. And that laugh… absolutely not! Even the action sequences were mostly unremarkable, aside from a few exceptions. There was no real sense of excitement or tension; too many quick cuts disrupted any momentum. While there's criticism to be leveled at Snyder, it’s undeniable that he knows how to direct impressive action. It’s frustrating because there *were* elements that worked well, particularly the core squad itself. Will Smith as Deadshot was excellent, embodying his signature cool demeanor effectively. Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn was appealing and generally strong, though some of her dialogue felt awkward. Their chemistry together was a highlight. I also appreciated other members like El Diablo, Killer Croc, and Captain Boomerang; they were all likable and brought some enjoyable moments to the film. Despite the overall mediocrity, there were flashes of what the movie could have been: amusing interactions between squad members, poignant scenes, occasional exciting action sequences, full group gatherings—like the bar scene. Ultimately, Suicide Squad is like a mediocre cake with a thin layer of good frosting. The taste isn’t terrible, but it's not particularly enjoyable either. You savor the pleasant frosting briefly before being confronted by the blandness of the rest of the cake. I was disappointed; I genuinely wanted to enjoy this film. I tried to set aside any positive or negative opinions and approached it with an open mind. I’m not optimistic that the extended cut will significantly improve things, as only about thirteen minutes of additional footage—likely focused on the Joker—is expected. It's ironic that after seeing this, I have a greater appreciation for Marvel Studios and what they accomplished with a more unconventional project like Guardians of the Galaxy. 6/10

Source on TMDB