You can’t begin discussing “Joker: Folie à Deux” without addressing the elephant in the room—the complete and total financial failure of this film. The film had a massive budget of $200 million, a significant jump from the original’s $55 million. Despite this, it only managed to bring in around $37.7 million in its opening weekend, along with a ton of negative PR. While the decision to turn the film into a musical was controversial, it’s best described as a musical drama reminiscent of old Hollywood productions. “Joker: Folie à Deux” feels more like watching a stage performance than a traditional feature film.
The film is set two years after the events of “Joker” concluded. The Joker is now a symbol for a more significant movement and a caricature of the person Arthur Fleck truly is, which ties into the crux of the story: where does Arthur end and the Joker begin? The story predominantly takes place between a Gotham City courthouse and Arkham Asylum, where Fleck forms a relationship with Lee (Lady Gaga), a woman from the non-violent wing of the asylum who is very forthright in affirming her love for the Joker. Arthur is forced to face the consequences of his actions after he is convicted and turns the courtroom into his grand finale performance. Eventually, even the people supporting him turn against him, as some support him only as the Joker, and others support him only as Arthur.
The film’s visuals are marvelous. Despite its dark undertones, the color palette is warm and vibrant, featuring rich greens, oranges, and even fiery blues—many scenes are bathed in sunlight. The cinematography also feels like an upgrade from the previous film, with a seamless flow between scenes, a technique used to emphasize Arthur’s psychological decline.
Unfortunately, the film’s positive aspects are not enough to save it from a bland script and a lackluster ending. The musical scenes were visually exciting and well-performed but confused most movie-goers as they felt they had no real impact on the story. “Joker: Folie à Deux” is a perfectly adequate sequel that seems to have the cards stacked against it. The film appears to be severely over-hated for the wrong reasons, but it is still mediocre.
Rating: 3/5
