Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch is a, "epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality. Unrestrained by the boundaries of time and place, she is free to go where her mind takes her, but her incredible adventures blur the lines between what’s real and what is imaginary…with potentially tragic consequences."
When you get a movie titled "Sucker Punch," you definitely expect a high-octane action movie with guns, fighting, and at least one hot chick running around in short shorts and a tight shirt. Well, this movie has five hot chicks laying some of the best beat downs I've ever seen, and with a much better wardrobe. This is Snyder's third film after 300. By now, the ambitious director has definitely established himself as a very personal, stylized visionary. Sucker Punch is no exception to his track record, and is by far the most exciting. Joining the young woman's (Babydoll) quest for freedom are fellow inmates Sweat Pea, her sister Rocket, Blondie, and Amber.
The story begins with Babydoll and her sister mourning the sudden death her their mother. Their stepfather, whom we immediately figure is a scumbag, discovers that the girls are left with the entire estate, and he nothing. This sends him into a drunken rage and he sets out for the sisters respectively. In self-defense, Babydoll pulls out a gun and tries to shoot her stepfather. Tragically, she misses and kills her sister instead. In a state of grief, Babydoll gives up and lets the authorities take her. She's taken to Lennox House for the Mentally Insane where her stepfather arranges to have her lobotomized. From there you are immediately dropped off from the insane asylum to a brothel where the girls are not crazy inmates, but courtesans/dancers. In this scenario, Babydoll is an orphan who is being dropped off by a priest. The owner of the brothel arranges to sell Babydoll off to "The Highroller" in five days. After a short introduction to all of the girls, Babydoll is taken to a dance room where everyone practices their signature dance moves. But don't expect any pole dancing. In fact, don't expect any dancing at all. Because when Baby closes her eyes, you're immediately transported to another world where danger is practically standing right beside you.
I wondered how Snyder was going to tie in four fantastic universes into this film, and dancing seems to be our portal. I wasn't too keen on using the same technique every time; it's too easy. I will say this, however, you do get a sense of bitter satisfaction later on.
The girls have to collect four items to help them along their prison break: a map, fire, a knife, and a key. In procuring these items, you're taken to a number of dystopian worlds: a WWI battle zone with gas mask wearing zombies, a medieval kingdom under siege by orcs, and another planet ruled by robots. Each world is like moving up to the next level in a video game; the challenges get harder, and the enemies get stronger. I dare say, everything about these scenes are so stylized and unique. It is literally eye candy. And the fight scenes. It's been a long time since I've seen a woman, let alone five of them, kick so much ass in one movie. Rocket (Jenna Malone) and Sweat Pea (Abbie Cornish) are the baddest ass chicks you'll ever not want to meet connecting a butt of a gun to your face.
I have to be honest. As I was sitting through this movie, I was beginning to get a little worried. Would this be another action movie with a plot for the sake of having a plot just so you can have another excuse to kick the next dude's ass? Is this just another dream without a point? Is Snyder just adding quiet scenes where you think you're getting a character moment, but it ends up being some empty conversation between two girls? Thankfully, no. With all the slow-motion violence and over-the-top action sequences, Snyder sprinkles in some emotional weight and characterization to our heroines. That soon pays off in the end. He puts them in scenes that'll have you snickering, and some where you start to feel anxious, perturbed, or just short of uneasy. They're aren't as in-depth to call those moments pieces of drama, more like melodrama. But it's just the right amount to plug yourself in and become emotionally invested. And I did.
The movie's not perfect, but it comes close for a high-octane action/fantasy. No, that's not correct. For what it is, you get a lot of high-quality action (more than The Expendables), and just enough character development, and strong young women who can actually team up and
fight. It's damn good. And as a woman who gets a little offended by the skimpy clothing movies make girls wear in these sort of films, I did not mind the wardrobe. They weren't even slutty, just the appropriate amount of sexy where you can still move around and break in some orc's face. Granted, Babydoll does dress up as a tease for pedo-freaks, right down to the make-up and dainty pigtails. But her ability to fend off said freaks has an underlying warning.
Snyder has come up with one hell of a ride into how we perceive reality in the darkest of times. And once you see it, you too will understand why it's called "Sucker Punch." I will definitely see this movie again.
