“Joker: Folie à Deux”: When Sequels Go Off the Rails
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Rating: 4/10
“Joker: Folie à Deux” is one of this year’s most anticipated films, or maybe just my most anticipated film, yet it’s this year’s biggest letdown film. The first Joker is very special for me and my page, as this was the first movie I reviewed, and I also enjoyed it. I’m a very sentimental person, and when they announced that there would be a sequel, I was excited. Then they confirmed Lady Gaga would play as Harley; I was even more excited. The biggest lesson I learned from this movie, I guess, is to lessen your expectations. From the direction and writing, the whole film felt like it was written by a mediocre kid at school who thinks everything they did is superior---It’s that bad, really!
The writing and direction felt uninspired and lazy. The film follows Arthur Fleck’s life, waiting for his trial for the crimes of Joker. While struggling with his dual identity as Arthur Fleck and Joker, Arthur stumbles upon true love and finds the music that's always inside him. The synopsis may have the potential to be a poignant exploration of mental health, but the film struggles to find its footing. The pacing is almost unbearable, as it gets dragged and dragged with nowhere to go. The film doesn’t know what it is trying to convey; the dialogue is flat, and the musical element does not match the narrative.
One of the most disjointed elements is the musical component, which seems awkwardly inserted rather than seamlessly integrated into the narrative. The music fails to enhance the story or characters, instead feeling like an afterthought. Although the musical element serves as Joker and Harley’s fantasies, it just doesn’t work well with the narrative they are trying to deliver. Adding the musical aspect to their dialogues made the film almost feel comical and pretentious. Lee said, “I’m pregnant.” “What?!” Arthur replied, then Lee, out of nowhere, belted out, “Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near?” It was hilarious.
For a $200 million budget, it’s a massive letdown. It is weird to have this much budget, yet no extra or grand was happening. The film’s settings were only at the jail and courtroom, so where did the $200 million budget go? Compared to Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two,” which was this year’s biggest film, it only has a $190 million budget, but the CGI effects and the quality of the film are far from “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Even the first installment has a budget of $65 million, yet it made an astounding $1.07 billion at the global box office.
Warner Bros. Pictures
When it comes to the performances, both Joaquin Phoenix and Stefani Germanotta (famously known as Lady Gaga) were electrifying. I appreciate that they are singing live, which added authenticity to their character, and the contrast in their voices sounded so good. However, due to the film’s lack of characterization, the addition of Harley “Lee” Quinn to this saga is rather unnecessary and underutilized. The addition of Harley Quinn could have been a great character to explore, but as the movie progresses, she fades into the background although her character plays a vital role in Joker’s life; it’s not that she has less screen time but because there was nothing written for her character aside from being Joker’s love interest. Although Joaquin Phoenix was great in this movie, it’s apparent that they are capitalizing on his success in the first installment after winning the Oscar for Best Actor and the movie gaining $1 Billion at the box office. Still, sadly, it turned out to be a disorganized and uninspiring film.
Everything in this film felt like a mistake. It's a cash-grab movie with nothing promising to offer. The musical aspect could be more cohesive to the whole film. Even the final scene felt like Todd Philips just wanted to end the Joker saga to avoid any further sequels. From start to finish, the film stumbles to find its ground. The entire experience of watching this film felt like witnessing a series of missteps. It comes across as a project primarily motivated by the desire to generate revenue without offering anything genuinely innovative or exciting for the audience. As a sequel, there is an expectation to build upon the strengths of its predecessor, but this movie struggles to find its own identity and purpose. This film is particularly disappointing for fans of the first installment, like myself. The original set a high bar with its depth and complexity, and as someone who appreciated its nuances, I hoped for a sequel that would expand on those strengths. Instead, I left the theater feeling let down by a film that failed to capture the essence of what made the original so impactful.
In conclusion, this sequel misses the mark on multiple fronts, failing to capture the depth and innovation that made its predecessor so compelling. Its lack of cohesion and purpose feels like a disservice to fans who anticipated a continuation worthy of the original's legacy. The disjointed musical elements rushed ending, and overall inconsistency contribute to a viewing experience that feels more like a series of missed opportunities than a meaningful story. While the film may achieve commercial success or not, it ultimately falls short of delivering the artistic and narrative fulfillment that audiences were hoping for. As a fan, seeing such potential go unrealized is disheartening, leaving one to wonder what could have been with more thoughtful execution. “Joker: Folie à Deux” is a testament that not all sequels are necessary.
