A Frustrating Sequel That Says F*** You to DC Fans - Joker: Folie à Deux Review

Todd Phillips's Joker: Folie à Deux — A Bold Sequel or a Misstep into Madness?

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR JOKER FOLIE A DEUX!

In 2019, Todd Phillips, known for films like War Dogs, The Hangover, and Starsky & Hutch, announced his next project: a Joker movie. The news sparked excitement, scepticism, and concern. Many wondered if another Joker film was necessary, especially since the character's story had been retold in various ways over the years.

When the film was finally released, it received mixed reactions. However, most agreed on one thing: Joaquin Phoenix’s performance was remarkable. His portrayal of the iconic comic book villain was praised for its intensity, backed by a film that looked and sounded fantastic. This led to numerous award nominations, including Phoenix winning the Oscar for Best Actor.

Fast forward to 2023: Phillips announced the sequel, Joker 2, which would later be titled Joker: Folie à Deux. As 2024 approached, anticipation for the film grew, especially with the casting of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Given the success of the first movie, I expected the sequel to meet, if not exceed, those high expectations. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a huge letdown—arguably my worst cinema experience of the year.

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There are some positives in this movie that I genuinely enjoyed. Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga deliver fantastic performances, each bringing their own unique charisma to the characters. Phoenix seamlessly carries over the intensity from the first film, making it feel like a natural continuation of Todd Phillips’ Joker saga. His portrayal is as captivating as ever. Lady Gaga, too, shines in this role, adding her personal flair to the character of Harley Quinn. Her inclusion feels fresh, and the addition of her vocals to the soundtrack is a great touch. Even for those, like myself, who weren’t fans of the musical elements, her haunting voice and well-crafted lyrics enhance the unsettling atmosphere of the film. The chemistry between the two leads is undeniable. They share some brilliant scenes that are powerful and engaging, made even more impactful by the film's stunning visuals and a thunderous score that echoes the first movie’s strengths.

I’ve always struggled to fully embrace Todd Phillips' adaptation of the Joker. To me, his portrayal never quite felt like the true Joker. Instead, he seemed more like a mentally ill man putting on a persona, lacking the familiar traits we’ve seen in previous versions—especially Heath Ledger’s interpretation, which, for me, remains the definitive take on the iconic villain. This film only reinforced my feelings that I didn’t connect with the story Phillips was trying to tell through his version of the character. At times, I found myself thinking, “Would the Joker really act this way in any other universe?”—though, perhaps that’s exactly what some might argue makes these films unique.

One aspect I did appreciate was how the movie is split into two distinct narratives. On one hand, we follow Arthur’s life in prison, and on the other, we see him battling for his freedom in court. The courtroom scenes, in particular, are a highlight. They offer a deeper exploration of Arthur’s character, showing his duality in an intriguing way. However, the prison scenes didn’t resonate with me as much. While it’s clear there’s a tense, conflicting relationship between Arthur and one of the prison guards, played by Brendan Gleeson, this subplot and relationship didn’t seem to contribute much to the overall story. In all honesty, it felt a bit disconnected.

Image: Digital Spy

The overall story feels both linear and non-linear at the same time, creating a somewhat jarring experience. The linear aspect—following Arthur’s journey from prison to court—works well enough. But once the film introduces his toxic, conflicting relationship with Lee and the hallucinatory dream sequences, the narrative starts to feel like it’s losing direction. As a viewer, it becomes unclear where the story is headed, almost as if the film itself is unsure of what comes next. Then there’s the musical element, which for me, was hit or miss. In some scenes, it worked beautifully. For example, when Arthur is imagining his life outside the prison with Lee, the dream sequences combined with the singing are well-executed. The colourful, vivid visuals help emphasise that these moments are taking place in his mind, and they’re shot with a creative flair. However, when the characters randomly break into song during other parts of the film, it feels out of place. Despite its nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime, it drags on, feeling more like a three-hour film. Realistically, it could have been cut down to under two hours by removing many of the unnecessary scenes, of which there are plenty.

The ending of this movie was the tipping point for me. It made me realise that both of Todd Phillips’ Joker films are ultimately pointless and serve no meaningful purpose within the DC or Batman universe. For those curious about the ending or looking for spoilers, here it is: Arthur Fleck is not the Joker. In the final scenes, we find Arthur back in prison, where he has a fatal encounter with another inmate. This inmate stabs Arthur while laughing maniacally, then proceeds to carve a smile into his own face with the same knife—a clear nod to how the Joker’s iconic smile was created in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. This moment completely lost me. It was then I realized that the two Joker films Phillips created had been a misdirection, leaving me—and likely many others—feeling deceived. After investing two movies’ worth of time watching this version of "Joker" commit crimes and wreak havoc on Gotham, we learn that he was never the true Joker, just a random man caught up in his own delusions. So I leave you all with this question. What was the point of these movies?

Overall, Joker: Folie à Deux is a deeply disappointing film, weighed down by a long list of flaws that far outweigh its strengths. Despite strong performances from Phoenix and Gaga, their efforts aren’t enough to save the movie from feeling like a disjointed mess. It lacks a clear place within any comic book universe and does little to build on the success of the first film.

Rating: ★★.5/5