As a longtime fan who has followed the Joker’s journey since his debut, I must confess that Joker: Folie à Deux left me feeling more like a clown than the Clown Prince of Crime himself. This sequel is less about progressing Arthur Fleck’s story and more about dancing around in a circus tent with Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn.
The Joker 2 movie, titled Folie à Deux, isn’t really a traditional sequel. Instead, it feels like an interlude or bridge, focusing on more personal scenes for the characters without significantly advancing them. Though there are enjoyable moments, the musical aspect tends to hinder the story, making this somewhat underdeveloped concept not essential viewing.
2019’s Joker is a timeless masterpiece. Todd Phillips brilliantly captured Gotham’s dark, almost hopeless ambiance, while Joaquin Phoenix delivered an outstanding performance – one of the deepest portrayals of the iconic DC villain ever presented on screen.
Standalone and delightful, it’s a captivating story on its own. Originally conceived as a solitary narrative, it wasn’t intended for serialization during the adaptation process. However, due to its impressive box office performance, Warner Bros. effectively pushed for a sequel.
In this instance, we find ourselves confronting an unnecessary sequel, one where the creators’ advice seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Over another 138 minutes, Arthur Fleck’s character development lacks depth and significance, while Lady Gaga’s portrayal of Harley Quinn leaves little impact, fading into obscurity. The movie offers a drawn-out, tiresome journey, offering little more than a handful of remarkable performances and lacking any substantial worth.
In a surprising turn of events, a budget of $200 million was allocated for a screenplay that feels much like fan-made content, as if someone who watched the initial movie was handed control of the creative process, with their first concepts becoming unchangeable. Frankly, it’s overly adorable and lacks any of the qualities that made the original so captivating. In essence, it’s not a wise investment of your time.
Fanfiction at a glacial pace
Two years after the dramatic finale of the initial Joker, the sequel titled Folie à Deux resumes with Arthur Fleck on the brink of his crucial trial. Displaying commendable conduct throughout most of his imprisonment, it appears that our troubled protagonist might have embarked on a new path due to the structure provided by his daily routine.
In a swift motion, ‘Lee’ (Lady Gaga) is hastily drawn back into the rabbit hole, where she sets out on a quest to unearth the true Joker who has hidden himself away. This journey begins with a simple duet in a psychiatric facility corridor and escalates into an extravagant showcase, selling out performances nationwide and being broadcast on television. For the deeply disturbed Fleck, it seems as if this is his reality.
The second installment of Joker is a delicate dance between truth and illusion, often blurring the lines for viewers, yet unfortunately, much of this ambiguity is explicitly explained rather than subtly hinted at like in the original film.
As a devoted fan, I’d say the upcoming sequel feels like it’s narrowing its focus to the intricate relationship between Joker and Harley, much like a ‘bottle episode.’ Similar to the intense ‘Fly’ episode from Breaking Bad, this story seems to put the main plot on hold, with only brief glimpses of action at the start and finish.
Throughout the film, there are extended musical performances that disrupt any sense of rhythm and flow. Just as the dialogue becomes engaging and promises to deliver more plot development, it abruptly switches to another musical number, often featuring a nostalgic track chosen by the cast. In the second half of the movie, I found myself sighing and rolling my eyes multiple times due to the excessive singing scenes.
In essence, performances significantly enhance this lengthy continuation, as Phoenix delivers another exceptional portrayal. Lady Gaga also shines in her limited screen time. However, I won’t disclose the character that steals the show for fear of spoilers. Notably, some characters from the original movie make a brief comeback in Joker 2, and one of these returns is undeniably the best part of the entire sequel.
Collectively, it gives off an odd vibe as if it’s a compilation of scenes left out in the initial movie – and for valid reasons. It’s not that everything is subpar, but there are elements deserving recognition. However, overall, you can consider the first film as a complete story on its own without giving Folie à Deux a second thought.
Life is a comedy
The movie, Folie à Deux, often fluctuates in tone, veering between immersing itself in depravity and dazzling with its glamour, yet it surprisingly manages to be quite humorous at times. In a particularly impressive performance, Joker, who remains mentally unstable, excels when he engages in playful manipulation not just of those around him but also the viewers themselves. Joaquin Phoenix portrays this facet of the character more effectively than ever before.
In the sequel, he might be self-consciously checking if he’s in the camera’s view or amusingly muttering expletives in reaction to criticisms from bystanders. Physical humor adds a welcome dose of lightness considering the grim theme. Some jokes are clever while others are a bit too straightforward – an intriguing mix, reflecting Fleck’s own comedic limitations.
In the grandeur of Joker 2, its most significant flaw lies in becoming enamored with its own grandiosity. A fitting analogy would be the third season of Hannibal, or more recently, the premiere episode of The Bear. With the initial installment receiving both critical acclaim and financial success, its creators seemed to lose their way amidst the euphoria at some point during production.
As a devoted fan, I must admit that the movie seems to have taken a more artistic approach, which in some instances, appears to favor style over substance. At times, it feels as though the film’s creators may have lost sight of the fact that they are making a film, not just an art piece. Unfortunately, this shift has left me, someone who greatly enjoyed the original, somewhat disappointed and questioning whether it still retains the charm of the first installment.
It seems that instead of choosing a single, coherent path for the character’s development, creators opted for a more dynamic yet chaotic approach, ramping up the dramatic elements as a result.
Joker 2 score: 2/5
In the movie, Harley boasts about watching the direct-to-TV film “Joker” twenty times. However, it seems plausible that she could have been the one who created this movie herself, given how a die-hard fan with free rein over their ideas fits the final product we see here.
Despite Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker being one of the greatest versions of the character across all platforms, which will likely remain unmatched, this transitional segment is difficult to accept and is likely to be quickly forgotten.
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2024-10-01 08:48