Director Zack Snyder finally gets to step out of the shadow of other creators and do a picture all his own, instead of another of the comic book adaptations that have made him his career. This is good for Snyder's creativity and an admirable choice. The problem seems to be however, that Snyder can't write worth a damn. It may have been quite the misstep to go from a literary giant like WATCHMEN and follow it up with a thin action film with copious style but little substance.
Sucker Punch is about a group of women in a 1930's-esque brothel, all trying to escape, accomplishing goals in vast metaphorical fantasies of unique action and violence. All of this is set within a framework of a woman trapped in an insane asylum, committed there against her will for things she didn't do. But that last bit only serves as bookends for the rest of the film, so you can more or less ignore it for 95% of the film. I feel the movie's plot would actually be better without that device. With the asylum plot it adds a layer to this film that the rest of the script doesn't compensate for. Sucker Punch would be a much better film without that added bit. It raises questions that are never even addressed, let alone answered.
Particularly worth questioning is this film's rating, a hard PG-13. This movie screams for an easy R rating. It's about women in a brothel fighting science fantasy monsters with guns and swords. Yet there's no blood, and no nudity, and not even any cussing. If this is Zack Snyder's true vision realized on screen, I would be very surprised. I'm hoping for a director's cut DVD edition of this so I can see what it really should have been. Expect a 2nd review if and when that comes to be.
There isn't much to say for the plot other than what it is. It's ok. The writing is weak, the dialog is tedious, the performances of most of the girls wooden, with the exception of Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish). Solid if predictable performances from Oscar Issac as brothel owner Blue Jones and Scott Glenn as a character simply called "Wise Man." There were no performances that were truly great, but it was still better than one usually expects from an action movie.
The soundtrack, especially if seen in IMAX, is very fitting and occasionally gives off the epic feel Snyder was going for. He failed, however, to acquire a soundtrack that was unique. Two songs came right off of the WATCHMEN soundtrack, and the iconic Pixie's song "Where is My Mind" from Fight Club is covered by Yoav featuring Emily Browning. The soundtrack is good, it just doesn't feel unique, which is sad, because Snyder wanted this film to stand out. In the long run, I feel almost nothing about the film will.
I haven't said anything about the fights because they're absolutely amazing. No complaints, and I could watch those cool as hell sequences over and over again. It's all that stuffed in-between the action that bored me. If you're going into see Sucker Punch for a great action film, you'll be distracted by the rest of the plot, but not at all disappointed by the combat. Giant samurais wielding mini-guns, steam-powered Nazis, and even a dragon, Sucker Punch will satisfy your orgy of absurd combat fetish no problem, but if you're really looking for more, you're going to be disappointed.
Despite some reviews calling for Snyder to never direct a film again, this movie really isn't that bad. It isn't particularly good, well-acted, or memorable, but it serves its purpose as a flashy action film. A good flashy action film even. Sucker Punch receives 3 stars, out of 5.
*** out of *****
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