A musical misfire

Despite the controversies surrounding Joker (2019) upon release, I found many things to admire about the film. Whether it was the ambitious storytelling, the refreshing take on an iconic DC character, or the homage it paid to Martin Scorsese’s classics like Taxi Driver (1976) and The King Of Comedy (1982), there was a lot to appreciate. However, when I heard they were making a sequel to what was supposed to be a standalone film, I had a bad feeling. Now that I’ve seen Joker: Folie À Deux, I can’t say my opinion has changed.
The original Joker ended on a satisfying note, with no need to connect it to any future Batman films, and it worked perfectly as a one-off. But when the movie grossed over US$1 billion (33 billion baht) worldwide and won multiple Academy Awards, Warner Bros was naturally eager for a follow-up. The problem, however, seems to be that once the studio committed to a sequel, they didn’t know exactly what to do with it creatively. Early on, it was announced that Joker: Folie À Deux would be something entirely different from the first movie — a musical. Enter Lady Gaga to play the role of Lee Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn) alongside Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker, adding a whole new layer to the story with musical numbers.
The film is set primarily in Arkham Asylum, where Joker/Arthur Fleck now resides. His monotonous daily routine, punctuated by gruff prison guards, paints a grim picture as he awaits trial. His lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (played by Catherine Keener), pushes for an insanity plea, suggesting that Joker and Arthur are two distinct personalities inhabiting the same body. But when Arthur meets fellow patient and admirer Lee Quinzel, played by Lady Gaga, it becomes clear that Joker is who he truly wants to be. Their initial connection occurs during musical therapy sessions, where real and imagined songs punctuate the film’s runtime. These Hollywood classics and vintage pop hits are passionately performed by Phoenix and Gaga, who bond through song, matching each other’s madness and delusions.
After five years, fans were eagerly awaiting an organic continuation of the first film, hoping for a similar tone and style in this alternate version of Joker and Gotham City. Unfortunately, what we got instead feels like a patchwork of ideas rather than a fully developed screenplay. The film’s structure is loose, with filler songs and drawn-out scenes that drag down the pacing. While the musical concept might have seemed intriguing on paper, in execution, it’s a muddled mess, and the film struggles to honour the expectations of those who loved the original. Joker: Folie À Deux is unfair to fans who wanted a legitimate continuation of Joker in the same gritty, psychological genre that defined the first film.
In terms of story, the sequel adds very little to what we’ve already seen. In fact, there’s barely any plot to describe at all. What you’ve seen in the trailers is essentially the whole movie. Yes, the cinematography is striking, and the musical numbers are well-executed, but the musical element simply doesn’t belong in this sequel. It doesn’t add anything meaningful to the original Joker and instead meanders for two hours and 20 minutes with little purpose. Watching it, you can sense there was never a plan for a sequel, and it shows — they had no clear direction for the story.
About 90% of the movie takes place inside Arkham Asylum or a courthouse, with Arthur Fleck either sitting in his cell or in a courtroom. He meets Harley Quinn, falls in love and then spends much of the movie fantasising about singing with her every five minutes. There’s no significant development in Joker’s character, and the film keeps hammering the same points over and over, but in a far less impactful way than the original. We get glimpses of the outside world and how society is reacting to and idolising Joker, but the movie never delves deeply enough into that. I was far more interested in exploring that side of the story than in whatever this film was trying to offer.
Now, let me be clear: Phoenix and Gaga are not to blame. They both deliver excellent performances given the material they were handed. Phoenix, as always, throws himself into the role, and Gaga does a fine job acting opposite him. But my biggest issue is with the way they handled Harley Quinn’s character. It’s as if they didn’t know what they wanted to do with her. The Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie À Deux is a completely different character from any iteration we’ve seen before. Her origin story is altered, she has no accent, and her dynamic with Joker feels off. Instead of being a complex, multifaceted character, she’s portrayed as someone simply obsessed with Joker in a way that feels one-dimensional and strange. Gaga’s presence in the film feels more like a vehicle for the musical aspect rather than a meaningful addition to the story.
Todd Phillips didn’t create the Joker character, and yet he’s made him a beta male in his own movie, which is puzzling. By the end of the first Joker, Arthur Fleck had evolved into a more confident and sinister figure. But in Joker: Folie À Deux, he seems to regress, constantly portrayed as a wimpy loser, overshadowed by nearly everyone else. If you’re watching this movie hoping for a commanding presence from Joker, prepare to be disappointed.
Without spoiling the ending, the biggest issue with Joker: Folie À Deux is that it feels like a pointless exercise. The way the film concludes does nothing to justify its existence; it’s almost a final middle finger to anyone who paid for a ticket expecting something as impactful as the first film. The original Joker wasn’t perfect, but it was good for what it was. This sequel doesn’t come close. Phoenix is still great in the role, but the script gives him little to work with, which is a shame considering the depth he brought to the character in both films.
While the acting, cinematography, and music are all technically fine, the film’s foundation — its story — is weak. In the end, Joker: Folie À Deux is a major disappointment and easily the worst sequel I’ve seen in years. If you enjoyed the first movie and want to hold onto that enjoyment, I’d advise skipping this one. It simply doesn’t do justice to the world that Joker created.