Sucker Punch

"Sucker Punch"  is a film I've been wanting to see.  Then after the reviews, I was dreading to see it.  Finally, I manned up and put the disc into the player.  Ultimately, while a bit confused, I wasn't disappointed.  The story is pretty much in the trailer.  Baby Doll (yeah there's an empowering name) is suffering.  Her mama died and her stepfather was real mean.  So she fought back, and for her trouble she's now in a nutter museum about to get a frontal lobotomy.  Her only chance is to escape, and she enters a fantasy world to do so.

Ok, I realized early on this is a film where one should not be thinking while watching it.  Look at the pretty pictures and don't think about it.  Let's take a crucial part of the movie as an example.  Now in "Real" life Baby Doll seems to have the ability to nearly hypnotize with her dancing (we don't see her dance).  The plan in reality is she dances and the other girls steal the things they need.  Now how does that relate to the dream world where they are fighting a dragon in a helicopter?  The short answer boys and girls is that it does not.  There is no A to B here.  So the easiest thing to do here is not to think about things.

Another thing not to think about is the sexual politics of the movie.  Why set it in a psychiatric hospital and whore house?  Why the stripper names?  Why oh why, fighting in high heels?  Some folks have a thing about noise in space.  Me, it's fighting in high heels.  Trust me people you'd get better results fighting with a pole up your butt (don't ask).  Obviously this film was made by men, and though they might have a fig leaf of crediblity as subtext, it is still an excuse to see a girl in a school girl uniform two sizes two small kicking ass.  I am a man, so I must admit I approve on some level so I will not think how this is a gross injustice to female characters everywhere.

So, when you stop thinking it becomes a fairly interesting film.  Each "adventure" is exciting and well staged.  And how can you not love steam nazis?  Or robots with big pink bunnies painted on them?  There is a wealth, a mish mosh, a tsunami of ideas and images so thick you really do need to go back and watch parts again.  I loved how each section is prefaced by the Wiseman.  He gives the perimeters of the mission, gives a corny motivational statement then says.. "One more thing.." and gives a cryptic clue.  Great fun!

One thing I have to tip my hat off to is the use of the music.  Starting with "Sweet Dreams," is just classy and amusing when the scene changes the LENNOX sanitarium.  I had to say that using Bjork's "Army of Me" was brilliant and I could see it as nothing else but as a shout out to soul sister "Tank Girl."  The rest of the music is of the same high standard and is an organic part of the film.  Kudos there to the director.

Generally I enjoyed myself, if a little guiltily at times.  Definitely worth a look.