The Suicide Squad

 

 

I will admit to a high tolerance for what I term grossity (a taste for a low level of humor) in films or jokes, but I must say that the last half hour or so of Writer/Director James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad slipped below my red line.  And, it was so enjoyable up to that point!

Despite that, I must say Margot Robbie is incredibly adorable in scenes many female stars would shun and the first two-thirds of the film are wonderful.

 So, I give the first two thirds a 4.7 out of 5, but the last third a 2.8 out of 5, for an overall 4.

And, please don’t bring the younger kids.

Black Widow

 

 

 

 

The only thing wrong with Director Cate Shortland’s Black Widow is that it is being shown on TV, while it is playing in theaters.  Otherwise, it is one of the best action pictures in years!

 Writer Eric Pearson, working with the story by Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson, has crafted an interesting and offbeat story about family and mixed it with more than enough action to make it soar above all the preceding films in this genre.

The women…Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz…are exceptional on all levels.  And, since the film is about women overcoming the dominance of an evil man, the film scores on that level, as well.

Black Widow is a must-see and deserves a 4.8 out of 5.

 

 

F9: The Fast Saga

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writer/Producer/Director Justin Lin’s F9: The Fast Saga joins the Action-Film-As-Cartoon genre with the most improbable action scenes ever, including shooting an airplane with two passengers into space to destroy a satellite…and getting them back!

 Of course, some of this Disneyland onscreen is fun, but seeing Vin Diesel walking around with a puffed-out chest looking for its bra and a mouth pursed like he’s constantly chewing week-old sour pickles is not so much fun.                                                                                                                 

The film is “saved” by the women, especially Michelle Rodriquez, Jordana Brewster and Charlize Theron.

Of course, the ending strongly hints there will be an F10 and, possibly, beyond, but F9: The Fast Saga is not the best of the litter.

I give it only a 3.2 out of 5.