Peppered with clichés and drawn-out sequences, Joker: Folie à Deux is undoubtedly one of the most disappointing films of the year.
Two years after the events of the Oscar-winning Joker, the titular Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) finds himself on trial and under the media’s magnifying glass for his brutal string of murders.
Amid the courtroom chaos, he meets and falls in love with Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga), and the pair prepare to face the world together.
Even with a star-studded cast, the musical-adjacent Joker 2 falls completely flat, dragged down by its repetitiveness, poor song performances and total lack of direction.
The tightness in your chest from watching the unhinged Fleck in the first film is a distant memory. Now, you’re left with a slight smirk and an eye roll at Phoenix’s exaggerated performance and recycled antics from the previous installment.
The film suffers from an immensely drawn-out pace, and most of the songs Phoenix and Gaga perform feel strikingly similar in both lyrics and tone. The film’s standout musical moment comes from Quinzel, who serenades Fleck with a rendition of the beautiful Carpenters classic, “They Long to Be (Close to You).”
Unfortunately, the scenes featuring this crowd-pleasing duo often feel disjointed and awkward. One particularly tedious moment involves Quinzel applying Fleck’s Joker makeup — a painstakingly long sequence — leading to an uncomfortable and unnecessary sex scene.
Clearly, director Todd Phillips ran out of steam after the first half hour. Much of the film consists of Fleck sitting in the back of police cars and delivering quips in court, which somehow always elicit enthusiastic reactions from the courtroom crowd.
The film also lacks confidence in its execution, failing to fully embrace its musical elements, ultimately hindering the DC-inspired flick.
Classic songs like “I’ve Got The World On A String” and “Gonna Build a Mountain” are injected at bizarre points and delivered in unsure voices. The song choices are poor — they fail to convey how the characters are feeling or the unique situation they find themselves in, instead simply interrupting the flow of the movie.
Phillips is no stranger to producing underwhelming sequels (see The Hangover 2 and 3), so it’s frustrating to see him slip back into the habit, especially after he saw renewed fame with his excellent direction of the first Joker.
The supporting characters also lack depth, with Brendan Gleeson reduced to portraying an over-the-top villainous prison guard. Fleck’s lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), is utterly devoid of personality. The district attorney, the familiar Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtley), is portrayed simply as a lawyer with no scenes outside the courtroom and no real indication of his future alter ego, Two-Face, from the DC Comics. Quinzel is similarly underdeveloped; she fails to evolve into Harley Quinn, Joker’s infamous sidekick.
Ultimately, Joker: Folie à Deux fails to deliver anything new or captivating.
With weak writing, disjointed scenes and a total lack of originality, it’s wise to save your time and money and sit this one out.
Featured image from IMDb.
