I Rewatched The Suicide Squad, And I Know What I Want More Of From James Gunn’s DCU

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I’ve recently enjoyed a re-watch of 2021’s “The Suicide Squad” on HBO Max, which sparked memories of my appreciation for the movie and admiration for director James Gunn’s style in superhero films. It isn’t merely about catchy music and jokes; it’s the joy these movies exude. Sometimes, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) or the older DC Extended Universe (DCEU) can feel overly serious or gloomy. Let’s infuse some excitement back into comic book films!

The Suicide Squad Is Silly In All The Best Ways

After seeing John Cena’s cameo in Superman this summer, which led me to watch Peacemaker Season 1 for the first time, I felt motivated to rewatch The Suicide Squad. To be honest, I had distanced myself from the DCEU towards its conclusion due to lack of enjoyment. Although some people appreciate Zach Snyder’s movies, they didn’t resonate with me. With the new DCU getting a fresh start, I thought it would be beneficial for me to catch up on the series.

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Upon diving into “Peacemaker,” I found myself realizing just how much I’d forgotten about “The Suicide Squad,” where John Cena first brought the dim-witted yet hilarious Peacemaker to life. It’s worth mentioning that it appears “The Suicide Squad” is part of the new DCU, marking the start of its live-action inaugural phase (known as “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters”). This phase began a few months ago with “Superman,” also helmed by Gunn.

In his films, including The Suicide Squad, James Gunn excels at creating an atmosphere filled with joy. It’s an exhilarating journey with a top-tier cast, accompanied by music that lives up to expectations, while maintaining a playful and animated tone – in the most enjoyable sense of those words. Compared to the gloomy DCEU movies like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, it’s refreshing to have something light-hearted and entertaining instead. While I understand the allure of darker comic book adaptations, my preference leans towards enjoyable and amusing content.

Making Comic Movies Silly Shouldn’t Be A Negative

Essentially, classic superhero comic books offer a blend of fun and whimsy, at least my preferred ones do. Over the past couple of decades, it seems the film industry has delved too deeply into the grittier storylines found in contemporary comics, and this trend is evident in both DC and Marvel movies. Notably, films like “The Suicide Squad” and James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy maintain the playful and quirky essence of comic books, a trait I believe should be emphasized more in future installments of the DCU (and also in the MCU, as it began to explore this with “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”).

In a more casual and engaging manner: There’s no need for all of his films to be over-the-top funny. Gunn masterfully balances heartfelt and humorous elements, particularly in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and to some extent in Superman, and I admire how cheerful and vibrant his movies are. The Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie) flower bomb scene in The Suicide Squad perfectly demonstrates this. It truly has a comic book feel to it, which sets it apart from many of the older DCEU films for me.

I’m truly excited about the forthcoming DC films and curious to discover how James Gunn and Peter Safran shape each one, given their role as creative architects for the franchise. Following suit is the animated “Creature Commandos,” a project I’ve yet to watch.

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2025-08-19 12:09