Robbie Collin reviews Suicide Squad 

I detest when people make the excuse that, "Well it's not made to be dissected. It's meant to be enjoyed with your brain off, etc." If I want to watch a fun movie that I can enjoy "with my brain off" I'll watch Guardians of the Galaxy, Pacific Rim, or Edge of Tomorrow or something, actual good films with good characters, writing, directing, and music, that I don't have to 100% he paying attention to, to really enjoy. Movies like this or BvS or The Amazing Spider-Man 1 & 2 I can't just "enjoy with my brain off" because my brain keeps telling me that it sucks. Enjoying a movie with your brain off requires that it actually be good in the first place.

For everyone asking - Kermode tweeted last night about the film: "Just saw Suicide Squad at the lovely @WTW_PlazaTruro. The staff, seats, projection, auditorium and audience were great. That is all."

Let's make a petition for Kemode to review this movie and talk about all it in blunt honesty

Wonder what Kermode thinks.

Sorry Edith - I generally respect your opinion but to call this 2 hours of escapism that doesn't need to 'be thought about' or 'be dissected' when it is so fundamentally part of a larger (and successful and well-loved) comic book narrative is a bit disingenuous. This isn't a 'Battle: Los Angeles' or even a 'Transformers'; this has the strong precedent of the source material.

I am sure the DC fans will be here with their dislikes soon... How some have responded when it comes to Rotten Tomatoes has been laughable in its pathetic nature.

I like Robbie's reviews - detailed, articulate and well reasoned.

Jesus, Edit Bowman. 'The film is not meant to be thought about and should only be enjoyed on the basis of its pop cultural references'? What a pathetic appraisal of cinema.

Edith is so cringey. She has no critical facility when it comes to anything mainstream or heavily marketed, be it film or music or whatever. Love Robbie Collin but I can't listen to the show when she is on.

If it's not meant to be thought about don't hire a thinking mans director in the form of David Ayer and tote how great it is you hired him and support your directors vision.

This film was a MESS!

Just because a movie should not meant to be a deep, existentialist piece, it doesn't mean it should be dumb AF! This is even worse than Batman vs. Superman, and that says a lot!

Probably studio interference because a bunch of old men in suits truly know what film fans want.

Completely on the money. Wannabe unique but couldn't be more generic and conventional, dull action scenes, nothing characters and horrible sexual politics. Studio tampering is a scapegoat that works to a certain extent but watching the film it quickly becomes clear that the script, on a very basic level, is bad. First act doles out BVS style quicktime clips of exposition, second act is dull and the third act is utterly dreadful. Will Smith is entertaining and Margot Robbie has charisma but her character makes zero sense. My advice to WB is that Wonder Woman shouldn't be subversive, should't have a bold new take on the character, it should just try unpretentiously to be a good superhero film. When they've proven they can do that, as Marvel did, then aim for the fences.

"Richie from Bottom got into trap music" HAHAHA genius.

This guy is 100% correct the wannabe edgy joker just didn't work or give justice to other Portrayals and the point about how WB over marketed this movie is a accurate I was expecting an entertaining memorable and summer blockbuster what u get is a can of mediocre over stylised basic superhero movie 3.5/10

People complain when Collin reviews a movie instead of Kermode, but I very much enjoy him. He's intelligent and has a lot of insight

No name check for Mark Hamill's VA work as the Joker, Robbie? Hands down the most complete on-screen representation of the iconic character.

I enjoyed the movie a lot more than some I guess. really loved all the easter eggs sprinkled throughout and really glad she pointed out that Guardians was not the first movie to use pop songs, or even the first in a superhero movie

Where is Mark when you need him - "Robbie, Thou shalt not use SPOILERS"!

Robbie > James King (aka Kermode Jr.)

I never realized how much I like Robbie Collin. I mean, I personally couldn't handle more than 5 minutes in Edith Bowman's company.

He came in clearing wanting this movie to fail...

Never watched Rob's reviews before, I was only here for Kermode, but I have to say I am very impressed and look forward to your future work. :)

great review. i love robbie's assessment

Get these loopers out and Kermode and Mayo back in please.

Hopefully they will release the other edit on BluRay

It really saddens me that this film is thought to be so good by so many people. It uses so many tropes and manipulative plays to get people to think what they're watching is good cinema when in fact it's a very very weak movie with little to nothing going for it. And the sad thing is: Suicide Squad and its characters have the potential to translate fantastically to screen. But, alas, we got an (often oddly acted) poorly filmed, pandering mess with no main character, no logic, no character arcs, very flimsy if not non-existent character motivations and a rendition of the Joker so far from the actual character I almost want to cry.

I agree with Robbie on the soundtrack stuff - back when Guardians was first released, I wrote an editorial for Bleeding Cool talking about how the soundtrack actually has a reason to be incorporated into the film in the manner in which it is. Specifically, "the tape also gives us an insight into the person who created it. Again, this is not Quill’s mixtape choices, but his late mother’s from her own adolescence in the 1970s, and it’s no coincidence that the majority of these songs are about falling in and out of love (“Hooked on a Feeling”, “I Want You Back” and “I’m Not In Love”), of youth and rebellion (“Go All the Way” and “Cherry Bomb”), a bit of glam rock mysticism (“Spirit in the Sky”** and “Moonage Daydream”) and some tracks that are just a bit of goofy funky goodness to dance to on a Saturday night (“Come And Get Your Love” and “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”). All of these songs are tied to the theme of her romance with Quill’s father - an “angel” from the stars - and her belief that he would return for her and their son one day. It is fitting that her final gift to Peter is a second cassette - “Awesome Mix Vol. 2” - and that it opens with the soul standard “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. Quill’s fixation on the tape player was always about holding onto a part of his mother, and by the end of the film he comes to a point of emotional catharsis where he is able to move on from his guilt over her passing and grow as a person." Even Deadpool, which goes out of its way to blow raspberries at superhero filmmaking conventions, has on its soundtrack moments that were explicitly story/character motivated. Can Suicide Squad claim the same? www.bleedingcool.com/2014/08/16/what-guardians-of-the-galaxy-can-tell-us-about-our-relationship-with-nostalgia/

To be fair, it is suggested that the hair was from the acid given the scene in ace chemicals bleaching Harley's skin.

Will Mark review this film as well? I'm interested in his opinion about it.

Agree with Robbie Collin. One hundred percent. And Jared Leto's Joker is definitely the worst I've ever seen.

I don't know who the woman is but I'm really annoyed by her devil's advocate nonsense. The film was awful and Robbie Collin is exactly right. I only wish he would have touched on how arbitrary the soundtrack was. Guardians had a 70's soundtrack for a reason. The main character was abducted from Earth in the 70's and all he had was the mixtape of 70's hits. And it fit with the space opera feel of the movie. But why did Suicide Squad have music that belongs in a Vietnam War film?

From watching a few reviews, I understand the Joker is barely in the movie. That's a very bad decision on the part of WB to cut most of his scenes. I don't understand the reasoning behind that?

I never used to like Robbie much but he has grown on me and he is absolutely right about this. It is immature, boring, stupid nonsense.

What a fantastic review. Incredibly well put.

TOTALLY agree with Robbie on the thing about the music. It drove me crazy, even though I actually do love the music. It's just that it was beyond distracting

As a DC fan I would like to publicly denounce the actions of this film. Also the previous Snyder films and any upcoming DC film. They have all been awful not sure why any fans are trying to claim this was good.

Edith Bowman opens her mouth and instantly sounds clueless when it comes to film.

Excellent review

Is this blond woman serious? "Hey movie critic, you have the wrong approach. Just enjoy the songs and the action. Don't THINK so much". She must be a Michael Bay fan.

Leto's joker hair is green due to falling in the VAT of Chemicals hence the ace chemicals scene and why he brought Harley there to turn her. It's not rocket science.

Don't agree with the 'Wuh aburt da wimmins presentation?!'. Viola Davis and Katana were not scantily clad.

Great review. It wasn't as bad as BvS but there were still huge mistakes to do with the way characters were built and some of the dialogue was just really awkward. I've accepted Leto's performance and don't absolutely hate it but it's nothing on all the other terrific performances of the Joker.

Thank god he mentioned the gyrating hips, it was ridiculous. I actually started laughing in the cinema.

Robbie called it like it is here

It was Oliver Hardy on the waist slimming machine.

Kermode always misses the big films...

Betokens is a great word. I think I would have incorrectly plumped for tokenizes.

Spot on review!

Good review

Everyone keeps saying how bad the characters are developed, but the filmmakers had to decide whether to focus on one person or split up the focus among the group. In the end they decided to focus on Deadshot and Harley, and to an extent Diablo and Enchantress. I thought they did well to get all this background in and keep the film moving at a fast pace.

These two debate their opinions better than kermode and mayo

Love Robbie Collin

I want Mark Kermode to review this not Robbie Collin. I just went to see suicide squad today that film was fantastic.

Ignore the critics, this film wasn't made for them. You could clearly see the cast having fun with this film.

Collin savaging joker 3 seconds in haha

say guardians of galaxy one more time pls...

He's so unbelievably eloquent RC, a bit dry sometimes, but he doesn't say 'it's about this...' every 5 seconds

I'm Still gonna watch it

Been listening to the podcast and can't believe Edith Bowman, on a movie podcast, has the nerve to question Robbie Collin on his views of the movie, to then say 'man I don't think about these things so deeply'. On a movie podcast she 'doesn't think about these things so deeply', well it leads me to the conclusion that she isn't thinking at all. One, he is a reviewer I want to hear his views, two, if you're going to critique his ideas, counter them with something more profound otherwise let the man have his say.

To the people saying "this is just escapism", I have no idea why you even clicked on this video. Climb back under your rocks.

Got to agree with strokey beard. It was absolute cat balls.

I'd call this film a dog's dinner, but that'd be an insult to dogs and food.

why couldnt mark review this?

It's becoming clear that certain movies like this are going to be huge hits with the critical scorn but audiences will flock to because of a certain character (Harley Quinn) and an amount of PG-13 action/violence.

Watch out for a million and one terrible Harley Quinn/Leto Jokers in the clubs and bars of the UK this Halloween. They'll be the go-to choices for "edgy" students. Perfect description of character sacrifice, Mr Collin.

Why so harsh on this movie. the only flaw I hav with the movie was the VILLAN. 8/10

Quite alot of Robbie Collin reviews on here! Not having a go at him as a critic, but this is not why I subscribed to the channel... Maybe they should have a think about what videos they put out... On a side note, wow this is quite a scathing review on Leto's Joker! Was not expecting that from the get go...

Oh Edith... the whole 'leave your brain at the door and enjoy it as a bit of escapism' thing is the same flawed line that the Transformers defenders try to use. (But I think she was just playing devil's advocate here so I'll let her off).

"This is what I wanted you to make but you didn't so therefore it's your fault"

This is a film review channel and this lady is saying "it's not meant to be thought about??? W H A T. I miss Mark and Simon.

While I agree with his overall review; to say the soundtrack has no connection to the scenes is bizarre. I thought the soundtrack was, if anything, too on the nose.

Absolutely spot on Robbie!

on the pop tracks, I think Robbie Collin is being kind. It's not just cynicsm. The tracks themselves are poorly chosen as they don't have the right tone to make the scenes they accompany seem fun. They don't say "this is fun and upbeat with a suitable hiphop track". They say "remember that K7 track from the 90s? here's an unnecessary cover." or "Remember when Eminem was using children's casio keyboard saxophone samples and phoning in his vocal". The film just couldn't settle on a tone. They wanted it to be fun like Guardians of the Galaxy but they wanted it to feel as grim and serious as other DC films (with the exception of Green Lantern, which actually got the tone right, albeit everything else wrong), and not only do they not know how to do gritty and deep; they know even less about making things fun. I'd say they got the diversity angle ok though. The costumes don't matter - it's the characters attitudes, independence and actions that count. Let's not find ourselves telling Harley Quinn or anyone else that they're "not going out dressed like that if they want to be taken seriously." We are better than that.

Can't stand Robbie Collin. Such cynical reviewer. Saying that, well structured review, agree with some points, disagree with others. Much prefer mini Kermode aka. James King

Hey remember when DC cinema was Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy? Why did they stop making films and start making a 'cinematic universe'? Do Marvel's films individually succeed financially more than the Dark Knight? Is it all Zack Snyder's fault?

More quality riffing between Edith and Robbie, and respect to Edith for holding her own there.

Who is this woman claiming that some films aren’t meant to be dissected DURING A FILM REVIEW.

I like you Robbie and find that we often agree but I have to side with Edith. It sounds like you have tried to not enjoy this. I found that I didn't love this new joker as much as I wanted but I really think you've read into this "VIP" Joker to much. I found him Scary and unpredictable which is more Joker at heart than perhaps we are used to. Being in different scenarios with different clothes doesn't make him less of a joker it shows that the character cannot be tied to one personality.

Supernatural bikini rofl couldn't agree more about Leto as well; not only was he a tertiary character (contrary to all the pre-release media hype) his performance was plagued with annoying and very self-conscious mannerisms... great review overall! :)

Started off as a good review but had far too many spoilers.

I get what Edith was trying to do by jumping in how she did, but it didn't come across well. Kinda came across like she was being purposely contradictory out of some love for this film... perhaps it was, I dunno. That said it did allow Robbie to articulate the problems with the film so...

@Edith thanks for arguing against some of Robbie's comments. The female characters are canon to the source material. They wear clothes like that and Harley uses her sexuality to her advantage. Nothing as bad as Bay's lewd approach to women on film. Joker was never the antagonist. He's just an anchor to Quinn's character. Ayer's first foray into this genre shows: gritty scenes are great, CG bits not so much. A movie with so many lesser known characters needs quick intro's and Ayer didn't wast time. It's a riot of action/comedy. BvS was not a bad movie. It had character depth and deconstructed the comic book movie characters. It has replay value. SS was never going to be that movie. It is more Marvel-like in it's approach therefore garnering mass-appeal into the DC Universe.

LOL the downvotes. Don't you DC fans want *good* versions of these stories? Why put up with this rubbish.

this film its so faithful to the comic what you talking about not faithful to the material?

Maybe it was just too much studio interference. David Ayer is a competent director, hard to believe he balls'd this up. I'm concerned the same thing is happening with Rogue One.

It was nowhere nearly as bad as it was made out to be. Vastly superior to BvS and overall a lot of fun. With a few changes like a better villain and more coherent editing, it could have been very good. If they fix those things next time, then I wanna spend time with this team next time again.

Does Edith ever dislike a film?

Is your head itchy mate?

What's the woman's name?

I just want Mark's review. That is all.

I love the way he says "even" the graphic novels, as if film is the highest form of art and the people who invented and developed the character are just a bunch of hacks

Well I didn't want to see this, but now there's really no need as he's gone through all the plot

Sooooooooo, spoilers I guess Robbie about who the villain is for those who haven't seen it yet.

How is it anything like GotG?? It's like saying Jason Bourne is like suicide squad because it has guns

It's got to suck being a DC fan. They've got a 0/3 record on film adaptions so far.

I cant see how Robbie Collins can bash this movie for being formulaic and for repeating set-pieces, then praise "Finding dory" which is the same joke over and over and over

Oh YES, you can easily compare this to Guardians of the Galaxy. Since the trailers for this film came out they were trying to go for a GotG vibe. All through the film they used music tracks Just Like GotG. Except in GotG the music was chosen before hand, the music was perfect for the scene either comically or tragically, Quill's obsession with his walkman was a Central part of the character and the plot, and it was Cool. The soundtrack of GotG was as popular, if not more, than the movie itself. SS on the other hand, sounds like someone in the theatre is flipping through Spotify at random. Escapsim is Great. Yes, it's why we go to movies, but that's No Excuse for a Pile of Steaming SH#, lazily thrown out with No respect for the souce material, and taking the audience for granted. The problem DC movies have - and for the life of me, I can't figure out WHY? They've Ruled TV for years, from animation (and as far as I'm concerned, if ou want to do a Decent DC Movie universe, get F#ng Paul Dini on the phone) to the the present DC TVverse. There's really no excuse for this - is that, while MARVEL studios is making movies by people who Know comic books, and know these characters and the world they live in, and Why Superheroes Click with fans, WB/DC are making movies by people who think they know Better. I'm crossing all fingers and toes that Wonder Woman will pull them out of the SH# Pit, but I fear it's going to stink as well., As I've heard before, everytime a Marvel movie comes out you wonder if it's going to be the bad one. Everytime a DC movie comes out you wonder if it's going to be the good one.

Jesus Christ, Scorsese's been using pop songs before Tarantino. Let's just get this fact straight!