Zack Snyder has certainly taken more flack than any other director in recent memory. His films have oftentimes been called all sizzle and no steak, and while there might be some truth to that, a particular movie of his that was released in 2011 certainly deserves much better than its 22% Rotten Tomatoes score. Yes, it’s definitely flashy, but at its core is a picture about mental health, exploitation, and trauma that deserves a second viewing.
We’re talking, of course, about Sucker Punch. The fantasy action movie that Snyder himself dubbed “Alice in Wonderland with guns,” but is so much more than that. Sucker Punch stars Emily Browning as Babydoll, a young woman whose stepfather frames her for the murder of her sister, and has her committed to a mental health facility. To cope with the abuse she suffers, she creates an elaborate fantasy world inside her head in order to escape the horrors of the real world.
Sucker Punch also stars Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, and Oscar Isaac. While it’s not available to stream on any platform at the moment, it’s absolutely worth the $4.99 it currently costs to own digitally on Prime Video. Check out the full synopsis for the movie below:
“Locked away, a young woman named Babydoll (Browning) retreats to a fantasy world where she is free to go wherever her mind takes her. Determined to fight for real freedom, she finds four women – Rocket, Blondie, Amber and Sweet Pea – to join together to escape the terrible fate that awaits them. With a virtual arsenal at their disposal, the allies battle everything from samurais to serpents, while trying to decide what price they will pay for survival.”
‘Sucker Punch’ Is Meant to Spark Meaningful Conversations
Released on March 25, 2011, Sucker Punch didn’t make much of a splash at the box office, and ended up losing money for Warner Bros. Pictures. It took in just $89 million against a budget of around $80 million, despite the theatrical cut being rated PG-13. It finished second on its opening weekend behind Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.
Does that mean it’s not worth your time? Definitely not. Don’t listen to the critics. Sucker Punch is one of those movies that deserves further examination. While many have said that it’s more interested in fulfilling adolescent male fantasies than anything else, that’s kind of the point. It’s meant to spark conversation about female exploitation in the media, as well as dive deep into arguments about the lack of control women have over their own bodies. As one critic put it, Sucker Punch is Snyder completely “unfiltered,” and it’s perhaps his most misunderstood movie to date.
Could it have been executed a little better? For sure, but that doesn’t discount the fact that Sucker Punch has a lot to say. Underneath all the sizzle is a hearty piece of steak. You just have to push the caramelized onions off to the side to get to it. It might be a bit tough to swallow, but Snyder’s 2011 film is leagues above what critics have to say about it.
- Release Date
-
March 25, 2011
- Runtime
-
109 Minutes
