Peacemaker retains its heartfelt magic while never slowing down the crazy. John Cena portrays a character who’s dim-witted and destructive, yet has become emotionally intelligent and a deeply good friend.
Danielle Brooks proves herself as the most talented performer of the lot and a national treasure. She’s remarkable, nuanced, and irresistible as Chris’ best and least problematic friend, Leota Adebayo. Jennifer Holland also gets so much to work with and steps up her outstanding game as Harcourt. Not to mention Steve Agee as Economos and Freddie Stroma as Vigilante — the constant is that everyone has grown thanks to Peacemaker’s friendship (except maybe Vigilante; he’s still an idiot).
Frank Grillo is excellent as the restrained yet vengeful Rick Flag Sr., giving a very calculated and unexpected performance. Tim Meadows is hilarious as expected, and Sol Rodriguez is also great.
Though the multiverse concept has been done to death in recent years, especially in superhero content, this approach still feels fresh and exciting. The humor is always at an 11, and at its core lies a beautiful and vulnerable heart thanks to James Gunn’s love for his characters.
The needle drops are all top-notch, and the story keeps surprising and exciting, with the plot turns and jokes playing off each other. Peacemaker builds on its character and world-building while remaining a brilliant and wholesome delight.
Rating: ★★★★½☆
Review by: Gal Balaban