Joker: Folie à Deux is disappointing, to say the least. Yes, it’s well made, but it’s also ashamed of what it is, and what it can be.
You’d think that the team behind the original masterpiece that is the first Joker movie (Todd Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix) can, at least, make a good sequel while adding Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Sorry, “Lee Quinzel”. Well, you’re wrong.
Intentionally, and to lower my expectations, I went to watch this one in theaters with my friends after only seeing the first trailer. Well, they should have been lower.
Folie à Deux is not sure of what it is. If anything, it is a derivative, less sophisticated rehash of the previous movie with unnecessary musicals and a dash of comic book spice that still leaves the film flavorless. Is it a sequel to the perfect first movie? Is it a movie based on comic books? Is it a musical? In fact, it’s not any of those. The movie tries to be all of them, while not committing to any.
This sequel tries to reimagine the dynamic between Joker (Phoenix) and Lady Gaga’s Harleen Quinzel. Yes, Phoenix delivers another great performance, but Gaga’s character falls flat. It literally could have been any character from any franchise that has some mental health issues and is fascinated by criminals.
So, why did Warner Bros. bait us with Harley Quinn and gave us a half-baked musical? We might never know, but I do hope that we never get another sequel to this franchise. Ever.
Should you watch it?
Ultimately worth a look but loaded with problems. This movie is not what you’d expect from a sequel, but it’s also ashamed of being a comic books movie, and a musical. The result? A jumbled non-commitment to either.
Where can I watch it?
Joker: Folie à Deux is now playing in theaters.
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