To the newest film in the rebooting DC Comic Film Universe (or DC Extended Universe as it seems to be being referred to), an indirect follow on to Batman vs Superman : Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad.

Written and directed by David Ayer (whose previous writing and directing credits include Fury and End of Watch), the film sees a number of dangerous criminals recruited for a likely doomed mission by an off shoot of the secret service.

The group include some well known comic book characters, including DeadShot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Killer Croc (Adele Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney). This dysfunctional group is led by Rick Flagg () The group is put together by the ruthless Amanda Waller (Viola Davies) with the view that even if they fail, their failure is easily blamed on their criminal tendencies in the first place. Dotted through the film are appearances by Jared Leto as the Joker, albeit in a reduced role compared to the rest of the cast.

The plot follows the group as they are formed and set out to take on a mystical, ancient power released through the Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) who managed to break out of control from Waller’s initial attempts to use her, and begins to wreak havoc across in Midway City.

If you combine The Dirty Dozen with Escape from New York, you’ve pretty much got it.

This film isn’t as bad as some of the reports that I’ve read, which is similar to my view of Batman vs Superman.  If anything, it struck me as a film trying too hard at times.

Overall though, I liked it. Smith’s and Kinnaman’s performance keeps the film grounded in a sense of humanity whilst Robbie and Leto steal most scenes that they are in.

I get a sense that the world is beginning to tire of superhero films. It doesnt mean that they’re getting worse (in face Civil War showed the opposite) however I do think as part of this that there is less patience for ones that aren’t instantly appealing. That’s where I think this film lands. It’s an enjoyable blockbuster movie and a likeable addition to the emerging DCU.

5/10