Everything about this sequel felt a bit off from the very beginning. From the fact it was reported as a musical to the main stars promoting it as not a musical (this is what I am talking about), the first reviews that were almost unanimously bad, and the fact this sequel even exists… I will tell you, when I sat down in the cinema, I was ready to be disappointed. The first hour definitely drags on as the musical bits are “a bit” weird; however, the second part, when we get to the court, was pretty fun. Is it a downgrade from the first Joker (2019)? Yes. Does this movie deserve all the negative reviews it is getting? I don’t think so.

This film picks up two years after the original movie. Arthur Fleck is getting ready for a trial and just so happens to meet Lee (Lady Gaga). And since his freak matches hers, they fall in love almost instantly. The problem with the first hour was the pacing. It nearly felt like the movie relied on you wanting to spend as much time as possible with Joker/Arthur in this dark prison, so you can… enjoy seeing him suffer? Have more mercy/pity for him when you see him at his lowest? I don’t know, to be honest. And it seems like neither does the movie.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the musical sequence in this totally not musical movie. Those were the prime examples of me understanding why the people behind this film decided to go with them, and I still didn’t enjoy most of them, at least in the context. I think it was the third or fourth musical sequence that “unlocked” all of them for me and made me understand their purpose. But even with that understanding, they still were mostly disruptive. It’s one of those tools when used effectively underlines and punctuates your point, but if used with a story that doesn’t justify it, it feels wrong, and each new one just takes you out of the movie.

Also, can studios stop this bullshit and if they make a musical, they make sure to promote it as such? The link above where Lady Gaga straight-up makes no sense and lies about Joker: Folie à Deux being a musical; I can’t blame her because I understand she was instructed by the studios and the people around her to say those things. I won’t blame any actors because this falls onto the studios and some bullshit research they had done saying that people are less likely to buy tickets for musicals. I wonder whether someone ever researched how many people will never buy a ticket again because they were deceived one too many times about the movies they went to see being musicals. Long story short – if your film has musical scenes where the characters break into songs that propel either the story or show us how those characters feel (like this movie does), it is a musical. And any studio should make sure to communicate it clearly enough to any potential viewer in the promotion of that film.

Let’s talk about the performances – I thought Joaquin Phoenix was just like this movie – rough start but a strong finish. I liked his performance more in the second half, mainly because the courtroom scenes were much better, and they allowed him to showcase the split between Arthur and Joker well enough. As far as Lady Gaga goes… I just don’t get her. She is an amazing pop icon and someone who has shaped music ever since 2008; I also love her as a singer and performer. She also seems to be a pretty down-to-earth person by all accounts. But I have yet to watch a movie starring her, thinking she’s a great actress. I have seen all her biggest films and always thought the same – she’s ok. If we count only the movies where she doesn’t play herself and has a bigger role, this is her third one (behind House of Gucci (2021, my review here) and A Star is Born (2018)), and I can say she’s been the same in two of them. I can’t blame her for House of Gucci; everyone was way too cringe/not great in that film. I feel like there’s this disconnect for me, where every time she is on the screen, I can see her act. I can see the wheels in her head turning. That might be a “me” problem, but she hasn’t convinced me so far.

As far as the movie goes, I think if you go into it with no preconceived notions and accept it for what it is, you might somewhat enjoy it. What I thought was interesting was the ultimate message, where this movie shows us the power of a cult, the idea itself being bigger than just one person, to the point where even if the “leader” refuses and rejects the idea, it’s too late. After this movie, I’ve read many opinions on how this was a middle finger to the audience or to the reception of the first movie, and I fail to see that. Maybe it is, and I am just too dumb to see it; that’s possible. But for my money, Joker: Folie à Deux knows what it wants to say and says it out loud. Now, the way it goes about it, it’s clunky and, ultimately, it’s not anything radically new, sure. But if you try to accept the movie on its own terms, I can’t see how you would end up hating it.

That brings me to my last point – this movie goes full Joker. If I were to compliment Todd Phillips on anything, it would be two things. Firstly, this movie is well done on a technical level. The camera work is excellent, and the editing and most performances are also good. Secondly, this movie feels like it was made by Joker. It’s dark, at times manic, at times crazy; it delves into that world of him understanding why what he did was wrong and lets us see everything from his point of view. If you can see this movie from this lens, from the point of view of this broken person who was abandoned and failed by the system and nobody listens to him, it can be dark. It is a shame that those elements just don’t “gel” together.

Overall, Joker: Folie à Deux is a technically brilliant movie in which the moving parts are better than the overall picture. When I step back and break down this movie in my head, I like many elements to a certain point; I even like the musical sequences. But this movie never feels cohesive in the way it blends those elements together. Also, quite a few scenes that were in trailers didn’t make it into the final movie, and that’s always a bummer. It’s a few steps below the first Joker, however, it’s hardly the worst movie of this year.

That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!

Until next time,

Luke