Susan Granger’s review of “Suicide Squad” (Warner Bros.)
How many superhero comic book movies does it take to make you yawn with boredom?
If you haven’t reached your saturation point, this could push you over the edge as superheroes are replaced by super-villains.
After “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” ruthless government agent Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) decides to recruit inmates – “the worst of the worst” – from a maximum-security facility, Belle Reve Penitentiary in Louisiana, to undertake covert missions to win their freedom.
Col. Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) is their handler, along with samurai swordswoman Katana (Karen Fukuhara). In order to keep them under control, their necks are implanted with deadly nanite bombs, courtesy of Wayne Enterprises.
There’s nihilistic Floyd Layton (Will Smith), known as Deadshot for his accuracy as a marksman, rugged Boomerang (Jai Courtney), reptilian swamp/sewer-dweller Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), rope master Slipknot (Adam Beach) and fiery ascetic El Diablo (Jay Hernandez).
Plus, the cackling, tatted Joker (Jared Leto) with his manipulative former psychiatrist/girl-friend, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie).
While June Moon, a witchy archeologist known as Enchantress (Cara Delavigne), briefly occupies their attention, Midway City faces a catastrophic threat from a mystical enemy.
Based on John Ostrander’s rather obscure DC comic book, it’s adapted by director David Ayer (“Fury”), who sneaks in a couple of continuity cameos from the Caped Crusader (Ben Affleck).
Cast as the Clown Prince of Crime, Jared Leto’s sociopathic Joker follows in the footsteps of Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger. Unfortunately, the Best Supporting Actor Oscar-winner for “Dallas Buyer’s Club” can’t quite measure up to his predecessors.
The most memorable performance comes from this year’s IT girl, Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “The Legend of Tarzan”), and the PG-13 rating is far too lenient, considering the foul language and violence.
Ahead in the pipeline, DC movies include “Wonder Woman,” “Justice League,” “Aquaman” and another Batman movie, directed by Ben Affleck.
Meanwhile, on the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Suicide Squad” is a fiendish 5 – with a predictable, sequel-teasing concluding scene.
