“Joker: Folie à Deux”: The Biggest Disappointment of the Year

Sequel to the success of 2019, Folie à Deux was one of the most anticipated films of the year. Sadly, it fell rather short of everything that made its predecessor wonderful.

Summary

Two years after the events of Joker, Arthur Fleck is in custody at Arkham State Hospital. The film takes us through Arthur’s trial for his past crimes and the effect it’s having on Gotham’s society.

A Bit of History…

In 2019, Todd Phillips gave us a film that we did not need, and that was radically different from everything DC Studios had done until that moment. The critical reception was not kind to the project when it was released. The film was accused of promoting violence, and at a certain point, the media implied that it was going to cause public disturbances.

But against all expectations, Joker became a major box office success, obtaining over $1.000.000.000 on a budget of only $55.000.000. It also got some recognition during the award season, earning Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for his performance.

The origin story of Batman’s villain, told in a more realistic tone, touched the hearts of many viewers. Besides the visual and artistic value, what made the movie stand out from the rest was the fact that it was a standalone project. The studios’ push for franchises was already a big thing before the pandemic, and in that climate, Joker was a breath of fresh air. It was not made to fit anywhere or as a glorified commercial for future films, it began and ended within the two hours, and the character’s story came full circle.

Instead of observing what the audience liked about Joker, and making a point to produce more films that could be watched independently or that had a more realistic approach to existing characters, Warner made the easiest and stupidest decision possible: making a sequel.

The Sequel No One Asked For

It was common knowledge that a second film was unnecessary. Personally, while I was sure any sequel would not reach the success of the original, I also saw a glimmer of hope. After all, the first film was also considered unnecessary back in 2019. I went to the theater with a good disposition and an open mind.

I’m sorry to say, Joker: Folie à Deux disappointed my modest expectations spectacularly.

But before tearing it apart, let’s mention the few positive things the film has to offer. First, the stunning cinematography. The film is a visual delight. Hildur Guðnadóttir’s soundtrack is just as perfect as the last time. And of course, Joaquin Phoenix makes a great return, but his work gets overshadowed by a disastrous script and a terrible use of musical sequences.

The Musical: The Most Uncomprehended Genre

I’m well aware that musicals are not as beloved today as they once were. The idea of the characters singing and dancing is incomprehensible to some, and that is not wrong. Not all genres are for everyone.

However, I’m hearing quite a lot of people say the film is failing simply because “it’s a musical”, which is not entirely true. Joker 2 has plenty of problems, but I’d like to dive into the musical aspect some more.

I love musicals, especially the old Hollywood ones. When I watched the first Joker, I remember getting really excited in the theater because they showed Arthur watching Shall We Dance?, an old Fred Astaire movie, on TV. Both Joker films are filled with music I love and pay homage to a film era I feel very nostalgic about, even though I didn’t live it.

What I profoundly dislike is when productions try to shoehorn musical elements where they don’t belong. Joker was a drama. There was no need for it to become a musical. But the worst thing is not that it is a musical, but the fact that it is a bad musical.

What Makes a Great Musical?

Musicals are not made just by selecting some songs and scattering them in between scenes. They need to have a structure. In a good film, songs and musical numbers are an integral part of the plot and have a specific meaning. They are used to highlight important moments, introduce characters, and explain emotions. Without them, nothing would make sense.

The film should also establish early the scope of the musical aspect. For example, if you watch The Sound of Music, you will see that all the characters participate in the musical numbers. In the universe of that movie, it is normal for people to sing and dance. On the other hand, in a film like Yentl, music is confined to the title character. In the context of this project, songs represent Yentl’s internal monologue. That is why the rest of the characters don’t sing and don’t react when she sings.

Joker’s Musical Crimes

In the case of Joker 2, it’s never clear what the music is there for. At first, it seems like the musical numbers are part of Arthur delusion, and it makes sense because there is a precedent for that. If you remember the first film, there are examples of similar behavior on his part. The scene when he dances in the bathroom is probably the most memorable.

But many long musical scenes later, this purpose dissolves, and everything becomes unclear. Is Arthur imagining everything? Why is Lee part of those moments? (Set aside the obvious reason that she is played by Lady Gaga) How do the rest of the characters interact with this? The songs are one after the other, and they don’t mark any important plot points. They are beautifully shot, but they mean nothing, making the experience boring and annoying.

Gaga’s Harley Quinn

If there is something that the film could have spared, it was Lady Gaga. I suspected that Joker 2 was going to make her the protagonist, demoting the Joker in his own film. Fortunately, I was wrong. Gaga is not on-screen as much as I had feared, but all her interventions in the story seem unnecessary. She has nothing to do there. She makes no contribution to Arthur’s development or to the plot, and she does not bear any resemblance to the Harley Quinn we all know.

She just sings. A lot. And of course she is great at it, but if I wanted to hear Lady Gaga sing, I would pay for a ticket to one of her concerts. 

Where is the Plot?

You may be wondering why I am not speaking about the plot, the most important part. For one reason: there was no plot. That was the fact that left me feeling more bitter after the wonderful job done in the first film. But it is true. Joker 2 is about nothing. That explains the nonsensical musical numbers taking up so much space: they were made as filler because there was no story to tell. The only relevant things in the film happen in the last half-hour.

At first, it seemed that this sequel was going to explore the idea of Arthur suffering an identity disorder. In that case, the Joker would be an alternate personality, born to protect Arthur from the abuses he suffered all his life. But no. The movie had only one task: give the character a horrible ending, trashing all the character development achieved in the first installment.

There is a particular moment that precipitates Arthur’s final decisions. After speaking too much during his trial, our protagonist is sexually assaulted by a group of Arkham guards as punishment for his words. Even though nothing graphic is shown on screen, the scene is horrific. Completely broken, Arthur repents of his past crimes, disappointing all the Joker supporters in the process, which eventually leads to his murder.

The Protagonist’s Destruction

The Joker was a villain. He was not supposed to have a redemption arch. The point of the first film was not to justify his crimes, but to explore the circumstances in which the criminal was created. Even though life was never fair for Arthur, and he is right in feeling that everyone has failed him, that does not mean he has the right to kill for revenge. The calamitous state of Gotham City makes people see him as an inspiration, but we, the audience, know that he is not a hero. The entire point is that Arthur needs to rebel against everything to become the Joker.

Joker 2 was made to punish the character for his rebellion. Not in court, or having Batman kick his ass. They wanted to completely destroy him. In that way, the film is a big f-you to everyone who loved the first film. It seems to be a cautionary tale: don’t rebel. Do you think you are suffering right now? It can be worse.

Reception and Box Office Results

It turns out I’m not the only one who believes this film should not exist. The reception from both audiences and critics has been abysmal.

Finishing its first week in theaters, Joker: Folie à Deux has made $42.150.630 at the domestic box office, a poor number compared to its 2019 predecessor. Counting on the international market, the worldwide results are $117.460.818, according to The Numbers. The problem is that, this time, the budget was far from modest: $200.000.000 was spent on this production, and that without counting the marketing expenses.

Warner will not repeat the success of 2019, and now they are going to lose a lot of money. Partly because of all the bad press the subject has had, but also because people who made the mistake of watching the film on theaters won’t be recommending it. I know I won’t.