Joker: Folie à Deux Sings Merrily but Says Nothing New
It has been amusing to watch Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, and director/co-writer Todd Phillips step-ball-change their way through the haphazardly crafted musical psychological thriller, Joker: Folie à Deux. Despite its star-studded cast and massive marketing campaign, the sequel to 2019's Joker has largely fallen flat with critics and audiences alike.
A Dull and Overly Cautious Sequel
Reviewers have been quick to point out the film's greatest sin: wasting Lady Gaga. The actress/singer brings her signature energy to the role of Harley Quinn, but her talents are wasted in a film that struggles to find its footing. Joaquin Phoenix, reprising his role as the Joker, delivers a performance that feels more like a rehashing of his Oscar-winning turn in the original. Even with the addition of musical numbers, the film's tone feels overly cautious, as if Phillips is hesitant to take risks and truly explore the Joker's psyche.
Zazie Beetz is also back, reprising her role from the previous film, while Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener join the cast in what can only be described as underutilized roles. The film's supporting cast is paper-thin, and the chemistry between the leads feels nonexistent. Even the film's setting, which promises to be a brighter, more artificial Gotham, feels like a Scorsese-inspired New York City knockoff.
A Misfire at the Box Office?
Initial box office projections have been less than stellar, with the film eyeing a $140M global start – well below the near $249M global start of the original. While it's unlikely that the film will be a complete disaster, it's clear that the magic of the original has worn off. Fans of the first film will likely leave feeling underwhelmed, and newcomers will struggle to find anything of substance in the overly long, meandering plot.
Does the Joke's on Us?
Phillips' decision to reject expectations and deliver a film that defies genre conventions has been met with criticism and confusion. While some have praised the film's ambition, others have called it a middle finger to anyone who sought something meaningful in the sequel. It's a bold move, to say the least, but one that ultimately falls flat. As one critic so aptly put it, "the joke's on us."
The Verdict
Ultimately, Joker: Folie à Deux feels like a film that's struggling to find its identity. It's a musical, but not quite. It's a psychological thriller, but not really. It's a sequel, but one that fails to live up to the original. With a talented cast and a large marketing budget, it's disappointing to see the film fail to deliver on its promises. Perhaps the post-credits scene – spoiler alert: there is one – will offer some glimmer of hope for a potential third installment, but until then, fans of the original will have to settle for a lackluster sequel that fails to impress.
)
#Entertainment