Shortly after ‘Megalopolis’ comes another big budget movie that has proven divisive with critics and fans, which I guess is a bit better than the almost universal panning Francis Ford Coppola’s passion project received. The main reason for the divisiveness was sown several months ago when it was revealed that the sequel to ‘Joker’ would be a musical – a genre not really associated with comic book movies, least of all the nihilism and violence that first comes to mind when you think of the Joker. It’s certainly an original approach and I’m all for big swings, particularly on a budget and with known characters, so could ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ make this intriguing blend work?
For me, the answer is sort of, but not nearly enough. A large part of that is down less to the music and more the narrative here, where too little happens and what does isn’t as interesting as it could be. ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ feels like a movie that can’t get out of a holding pattern and spending 2+ hours with Arthur Fleck in prison and in court doesn’t amount to enough drama, particularly in comparison with the first movie. The positives largely surround Joaquin Phoenix who is great again, and Lady Gaga, who delivers an enjoyable take on Harley Quinn despite the filmmakers disappointing choice to keep her largely on the fringes of the main plot. A lot of the movie takes place in Fleck’s head, with the majority of the musical sequences taking place in this ‘fantasy’ environment, and it’s a bold attempt to explore his fragile mental state that unfortunately doesn’t always make for riveting viewing.
The biggest challenge ‘Joker: Folie à Deux‘ has is that it’s too big a departure to appeal to fans of the first movie (of which I was one), and it’s too alienating to attract musical fans (unless they also held an interest in the first movie). There was always a sense with the first movie that it was meant to be standalone, and ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ does not do enough to argue against that viewpoint. I’d also argue if you’re going to make a musical, the songs have to be better across the board than this – a couple of reworked classics aside. As a fan of ‘Joker’ and a musical fan this movie in theory should be right up my street, but the fact that it wasn’t (and clearly I don’t represent everyone!) is evidence enough that this is an oddity for a studio release that hasn’t realised its primary issue is that it doesn’t really appeal to anyone.
Rating: 3/5
Directed By: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Leigh Gill, Ken Leung, Jacob Lofland and Bill Smitrovich
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