The results are and Joker: Folie à Deux is one of the biggest disappointments of 2024.
Finally, after grossing over a billion dollars, box office 2019 Joker was that year’s commercial surprise hit that eventually led to a green light Joker 2.
Unfortunately the reception Folie à Deux is a disaster, earning a paltry $40 million domestically in its opening weekend and earning a historically low D CinemaScore from audiences.
Although some would argue that Todd Phillips’ story has some merit Joker 2critics and fans are overwhelmingly upset about the sequel for a few specific reasons.
5 Reasons Why Joker 2: Folie à Deux Is Bad
1.) Joker 2 was never meant to happen
Joker 2 was never part of Todd Phillips’ original vision for the franchise. When the first film was released in 2019, Phillips was clear in interviews that he viewed the film as an independent project.
He intended to create a unique, encapsulated story of Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness without any plans for a follow-up.
In 2019, Phillips went out of his way to clarify his thoughts on the prospect Joker 2and confirmed that the first Joker wasn’t “set (get) sequel:”
“We have no plans for a sequel. The quote was, ‘I’ll do whatever Joaquin wants to do.’ And I would like to, but the movie has no sequel. We always presented it as one film.
This attitude suited the film’s unique approach, which deviated from traditional comic Book films by offering fans a gritty psychological drama that was very different from any previous iteration of the Joker.
However, after that Joker‘s huge financial success, which was the studio’s best investment in recent memory, pressure from Warner Bros. seemed to force the creation of Folie à Deux.
This unexpected demand for a sequel meant that Phillips and the team had to develop a story for a film that was never meant to exist.
As a result, Folie à Deux was created, bringing back Joaquin Phoenix after his Oscar-winning performance and introducing Lady Gaga as the second iteration of Harley Quinn.
2.) A musical that doesn’t commit to being a musical
Music elements inside Joker: Folie à Deux have been criticized for not fully committing to the genre, letting audiences down for the musical scenes they’ve been given. (Read more about why Phillips decided to Joker 2 musical).
While Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker has never been a problem in this series, Arthur Fleck’s vocals lack the vocal power needed in a musical, often seeming strained and unconvincing, probably on purpose.
A weak, frail Fleck breaking into the song undermines the intended impact of several musical numbers. Most of these scenes also lack the dynamic visual feel that could have elevated the film’s musical sequences.
Mainly within the harsh confines of Arkham State Hospital, these chapters feel repetitive and visually boring, missing opportunities for more creative and engaging set-pieces.
Gaga’s presence as Leena offers respite as her charisma and powerful voice manage to bring life to otherwise flat musical moments. However, even his standout performances are undermined by the uninspired direction of these episodes, which fail to capitalize on his talents.
The decision to film many of the musical pieces in static, prison-like settings limits their emotional and aesthetic reach, making them feel more like a chore than an exciting addition to the film’s story.
As a result, the musical aspects Joker: Folie à Deux fell short, although some dream sequences were full of color and stronger singing, most of the singing scenes were disappointing.
3.) Cartoon courtroom drama
Focus on the courtroom Joker: Folie à Deux has been widely criticized for its lack of narrative tension, as the outcome feels predictable and uninteresting.
Since Arthur Fleck openly admits to the murders central to the trial, viewers have little suspense as to whether he will be found guilty, especially after he fires his attorney.
This foregone conclusion drains the courtroom scenes of any potential intensity, making them boring and overlong. Joker 2 tries to increase the drama with additional plots – such as Lee lying to Arthur about his upbringing – but these elements fail to compensate for the lack of real stakes.
Even the role of Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey) feels like an afterthought in a trial whose verdict is inevitable. He’s just there to state the obvious to the jury in a case that never strays too far open and shut.
Many believe that the single standout scene, possibly the best of the entire film, is when Gary Puddles (Leigh Gill) takes the stand and is questioned by the Joker/Arthur. This moment was heavy and one of the few moments where the audience really felt the weight of Arthur’s actions Joker.
Unfortunately, this moment is sandwiched between an anticlimactic one with little to no stakes. It also seems that Phillips knew this, leading to a car bomb blowing up the courtroom and Arthur fleeing as a result of his guilty verdict.
4.) Lady Gaga is lost
Many viewers were disappointed with the way Joker: Folie à Deux the underutilized character of Lady Gaga, Lee Quinzel, both a storytelling and musical perspective.
This is seen as one of the most annoying aspects Joker 2as Gagan’s Casting gave many fans a thrill, even though they felt Joker no sequel needed.
Despite Gaga’s undeniable talent and charisma, her role felt sidelined and completely underdeveloped, reducing her character to nothing more than a narrative accessory to Arthur’s journey.
Lee’s potential to be a chaotic force or a central figure in the Joker’s lap was never fully realized, with most of his notable moments either occurring in dream sequences or getting tangled up in subs.
Even musically, while Gaga’s performances were impressive, they felt out of place within the film’s structure, diminishing their impact.
Ultimately, Gaga’s character was full of potential that the film failed to tap into. Lee was only there to represent those who believed “The Joker” was real.
5.) Joker: Folie á Deux returns to the first film
Joker: Folie à Deux Backs up largely to the nuanced portrayal of Arthur Fleck as Gotham’s calculating anti-hero and symbol, making him a victim of circumstance and childhood trauma, much to the dismay of many fans of the original.
in JokerArthur’s descent into madness is compelling as it is fueled by his awareness of societal corruption, suggesting the twisted mindset behind his actions.
In addition, JokerThe ending of the film left a consistent feeling of unreliable narration and description that made audiences question what was true and what wasn’t after the film’s release.
However, the sequel frames Arthur as powerless, stripping him of his will and emphasizing his mental instability. By doing this Joker 2 walks back to the subversion of the first film, leaving viewers with a less complex, more tragic character.
Joker: Folie à Deux is now showing in theaters.
