Caption: (L-r) KING SHARK, DANIELA MELCHIOR as Ratcatcher 2, JOEL KINNAMAN as Colonel Rich Flag, IDRIS ELBA as Bloodsport, MARGOT ROBBIE as Harley Quinn, JOHN CENA as Peacemaker, PETER CAPALDI as Thinker, DAVID DASTMALCHIAN as Polka-Dot Man and JULIO CESAR RUIZ as Milton in Warner Bros. Pictures’ superhero action adventure “THE SUICIDE SQUAD,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics
Movies

Early “The Suicide Squad” Buzz Hails A Hilarious, Insane & Surprisingly Heartfelt Epic

July 15, 2021
By The Credits

James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad hits theaters and HBO Max on August 6, which means that critics have already gotten to screen the film and offer their initial reactions. We won’t get full reviews for a bit—those are usually embargoed until right before the premiere—but these spoiler-free first takes give us a good idea of how they view the film. Spoiler alert: it sounds like Gunn’s hit a homerun here.

Before we get to those initial reactions, let’s briefly go over the film’s synopsis. Gunn wrote and directed this reboot, of sorts, which resurrects some characters from David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad but that’s about it, the rest is brand new. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is one returnee from the previous film, and she’s back to once again recruit a band of lunatics, misfits, and a talking shark for a mission to the island of Corto Maltese, where a certain “Project Starfish” is underway. The squad will need to fight like hell, as a team, if they’re going to save humanity.

Joining Davis are fellow returning champs Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, and Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag. Newcomers include Idris Elba as Bloodsport, Sylvester Stallone as the voice of King Shark, John Cena as Peacemaker, Peter Capaldi as the Thinker, David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, Michael Rooker as Savant, Alice Braga as Sol Soria, Pete Davidson as Richard “Dick” Hertz/Blackguard, Nathan Fillion as T.D.K., Sean Gunn as Weasel, Flula Borg as Javelin, and Mayling Ng as Mongal.

Onto those early reactions!

For more on the Suicide Squad, check out these stories:

For more on Warner Bros., HBO, and HBO Max, check out these stories:

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James Gunn Confirms “The Suicide Squad” Runtime & Post-Credits Scene

Featured image: Caption: (L-r) KING SHARK, DANIELA MELCHIOR as Ratcatcher 2, JOEL KINNAMAN as Colonel Rich Flag, IDRIS ELBA as Bloodsport, MARGOT ROBBIE as Harley Quinn, JOHN CENA as Peacemaker, PETER CAPALDI as Thinker, DAVID DASTMALCHIAN as Polka-Dot Man and JULIO CESAR RUIZ as Milton in Warner Bros. Pictures’ superhero action adventure “THE SUICIDE SQUAD,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics

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The Credits

The Credits is an online magazine that tells the story behind the story to celebrate our large and diverse creative community. Focusing on profiles of below-the-line filmmakers, The Credits celebrates the often uncelebrated individuals who are indispensable to the films and TV shows we love.