Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5 Stars)
Released 10-04-2024
Watched 10-06-2024
Reviewed 10-08-2024
Watched in the theater Using Cinemark Movie Club
"Got a joke for us today?"
Joker: Folie à Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to 2019's Joker, misses the mark in a big way. With Joaquin Phoenix reprising his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga joining the cast as Harley Quinn, the film had all the potential to build on the dark, psychological intensity of its predecessor. However, what we get instead is a bloated, aimless story that feels like it's spinning its wheels without any real purpose.
To its credit, the acting is solid. Phoenix once again delivers a disturbing and committed performance, and Lady Gaga's vocal talents shine in the film's musical numbers. The songs are well-executed, adding a strange but intriguing layer to the experience. However, good performances and competent singing aren't enough to salvage a plot that feels utterly directionless.
When Joker ended, Arthur Fleck was imprisoned, leaving audiences to wonder how his next chapter would unfold. Would he escape and begin his transformation into Gotham's notorious supervillain? Unfortunately, that’s not what happens here. The narrative is convoluted, leaning into surrealist moments and psychological fantasy, but it ultimately goes nowhere. The film teases grand ideas, but by the end, the story is as locked up as Fleck himself, without any real evolution or climax.
If you're expecting Joker to become the criminal mastermind we know from comic lore, you’ll be sorely disappointed. The story treads water, creating more questions than answers and leaving viewers with a sense of emptiness rather than excitement. What’s worse is the constant reminder of Fleck's tragic mental health issues, making this a heavy, melancholy experience—one that might leave you feeling more depressed than entertained.
In short, Joker: Folie à Deux is a two-star effort that fails to live up to its potential. Wait for this one to hit streaming if you're a fan, but honestly, you might be better off skipping it altogether. It’s a reminder that not every film needs a sequel, especially when it doesn’t know what story it wants to tell.
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