There has been a growing trend in recent years to utilize the draw of Batman to prop up movies and TV shows. His presence is used on Gotham, a show that uses his entire roster of supporting characters to create an environment where a Batman would need to be created. They are also using him to prop up the Man of Steel franchise and even going as far as changing the title to Batman v Superman to gain extra publicity. In the latest DC Animated feature, you should be forewarned that they try to trick the viewer into thinking that this is a Batman film, by including his name in the title. It is not. They named the movie Batman: Assault on Arkham, when it clearly should be named Suicide Squad: Assault on Arkham. Because the Suicide Squad proves in this movie, that they can carry the show all on their own.

Batman: Assault on Arkham is based on DC Comics’ Suicide Squad which was created by John Ostrander. The comic is about a clandestine government agency, that recruits criminals to participate in secret black ops missions in exchange for clemency for their pasts misdeeds. The squad is led by Amanda Waller, who has had explosive devices implanted in all of the participating criminal’s heads. In the comics, the team has had revolving members from all over the DC universe, but recently Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and Harley Quinn, have been mainstays. Their mission is to break into Arkham Asylum and retrieve a flash drive in the Riddler’s cane, which puts them into direct conflict with law enforcement and the Dark Knight.  

It is clear from the onset who the star of this show is, Floyd Lawton aka Deadshot. He is one of the only members that gets a backstory, aside from Harley Quinn. His motivation is to get out of jail and get back to his daughter. The set-up is flimsy and underdeveloped, however it does position him to be the most redeemable member of the film. As the team’s leading strategist and marksman, he quickly proves to be the most capable of the crew. Deadshot plays things straight, which works because there are so many colorful characters and lunatics all around him. 

The film really starts to set itself apart from other DC stories when Batman shows up to complicate their plans. It is refreshing to have Batman in a different role. He feels more like a nuisance than the hero. This is one of the few times that I found myself rooting against the Dark Knight and it was an enjoyable change of pace. Taking a tour of Gotham City without our typical caped tour guide made things more unpredictable when the Squad encounters familiar faces, like the Riddler and the Penguin. There really is no known moral compass in any of the characters, so it makes the famous villain encounters more memorable.

It’s close to impossible to watch the movie without imagining the implications of the live-action film on the way. An interesting sociopathic love triangle is established between Harley Quinn, the Joker, and Deadshot. Lawton is a cold-blooded assassin, however he is not clinically insane. So when Harley seduces him, it is logical. He represents clarity of mind (a skill that a sniper needs to possess) and stability. The contrast is easily apparent when the Joker enters the film and brings his trademark chaos and anarchy. Not only is Harley easily influenced, she also manipulates the situation to create even more problems. By the time the Suicide Squad is released in theaters in 2016, audiences would have already seen Will Smith and Margot Robbie’s chemistry in the film Focus. Even if they don’t explore a “love” triangle between the three in the movie (I have a hunch that they will), audiences may still be informed by that previous knowledge, which will create additional tension.

The tone of the film is scattered as it goes from a gritty The Dark Knight tale, to a whimsical Ocean’s Eleven vibe in an instant. Some of the elements feel fresh and at other times it feels inconsistent. No one is affected by this change more than Waller who begins the movie as an authoritative voice to be feared, but by the end of the film is little more than a running punchline. The music is also distracting at times taking away the impact of the action scenes, with music cues that tell you, “it’s time to be excited.” At other times the music is particularly cartoony which really can pull you out of the brutal and violent world that has already been established.

If this was Warner Bros’ test to see if a Suicide Squad film would work in live-action, the answer is yes. While certainly not the best DC Comics animated movie to come from WB, Batman: Assault on Arkham proves (much like Fox’s Gotham) that a successful world can be built from the supporting characters of the DC universe. It is clear that many seeds and story ideas were planted in this animated movie that they intend to carry over into their live-action universe. Batman: Assault on Arkham is another solid entry into the DC animated library. While not the perfect movie, it does provide a mature take on the world of Batman, while formally introducing characters that will soon become household names. If you are looking to expand your DC universe and have Batman: Assault on Arkham in your sights, go ahead and take the shot. It’s a fun ride.