As it likely is with most young men, I’ve always craved a certain type of excitement in cinema. That often includes overblown computer-animated environments, crazy-fast fight scenes with gratuitous slow-motion, and a cast of hot girls kicking a lot of butt! As you can probably tell from the movie’s cover, Sucker Punch offers all of these things, following in a whole generation of similarly gratuitous and brainless entertainment. There are four major segments in which the film delves into an imaginative and creative landscape where all hell breaks loose.
This only begs the question, so what? Where’s the story and the substance? Most folks will argue that this film doesn’t have a good story or good characters, and that the plot is merely a hollow shell to showcase the over-the-top action scenes. Others have taken offense to its portrayal of women being abused by the male characters.
Frankly, I don’t agree with these assessments. If anything, the movie may have been too effective in dazzling the audience with its fantasy segments; if you look past them, there are deeper levels to the story. Without the action scenes, it’s primarily a drama, full of vulnerable characters struggling to escape a desperate situation. With the action scenes, it’s a play on what’s real and what’s not. Given the twist at the end of the movie, all layers of reality are sewn together with some rather intriguing parallels. It may not make total sense at first, but on repeat viewings, I’ve picked up on many subtle details that make the levels work sublimely together. Whether or not it (and the characters) really resonate with the audience will vary from person to person, and this will always remain a love-it-or-hate-it film.
For those who wish to look deeper into the film, you might find that the film reaches past the screen and tries to invoke you in some way. Some believe that it’s a parallel to living life in general. I believe it’s a criticism of the Hollywood studio system, with the dancers representing filmmakers and the male characters forcing them to produce fantasies of their choice. Regardless of how you look at it, the message is clear; the film asks you to fight for what you believe in.
As to what the film’s title really means, I’m sure it’ll differ from person to person. The plot sucker-punches you with its twists and turns. If you see a message in the film, maybe it’ll hit you like a sucker punch. If you wind up hating the film and finding no redeeming value whatsoever, then I guess you’ve been sucker-punched.
Cinematically, the film is very slick and stylish, with lots of smooth photography and editing. The action segments feature loads of slow-motion and CGI effects; everything in-between utilizes a very cool color scheme and a lot of unusual camera angles. Acting can be a mixed bag; I didn’t mind Emily Browning as Babydoll, but I didn’t care for Abbie Cornish playing Sweet Pea. Oscar Isaac, Carla Gugino, and Scott Glenn are not bad in their roles. Every other performance here is serviceable. Writing is pretty strong, with enough distinctive and interesting dialogue to invoke some thought and feeling. The production value is high, featuring lots of slick and decent sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music, while not original, is pretty darn cool.
5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good)
This film currently appears on my list of Top 100 Favorite Guilty Pleasure Movies at #1, and my Top 100 Favorite Films at #64.
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