A โJokerโ sequel was probably a given. But โFolie a Deuxโ? Woof, itโs a dog.
The reason rests largely with a lack of story. โJoker 2โ starts with Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) in a mental institution awaiting trial. The guards make fun of him; the public is fascinated with his story.
Five years after their rabble-rousing Oscar nominated DC Comics blockbuster, director Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix are back for more antihero fun. This time, itโs a musical, and Lady Gaga is playing Harley Quinn. (Oct. 4, in theaters)
When the case comes to trial (heโs charged with killing five people), a cult has emerged who see him as some kind of folk hero, not a lawbreaker. Chief among those is Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga), who meets him in a music therapy class. They begin the run of show tunes.
And then, the story takes a decided turn. Rather than fill us in on her life, director Todd Phillips uses this as an opportunity for Gaga to sing snippets from a host of songs โ including those found in movie musicals. That delays the inevitable and makes us wonder why Gaga even agreed to do this. Sheโs the erstwhile Harley Quinn but little of that story seeps through. Instead, thereโs a lot of Phoenix grinning and picking at songs. By the time theyโve had their sixth or seventh go at Gotham karaoke, โFolie a Deuxโ certainly earns its title.
The trial could amount to something (particularly when Fleck dresses in Joker-esque clothes), but it seems just as dull as a regular trial. Only the appearance of Gary Puddles (Leigh Gill), a colleague from Fleckโs clown days, amounts to anything. He details the carnage and looks visibly scared of Fleck when he moves in for the questioning.
The assistant district attorney โ Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey) โ should be a source for another origins story but he, too, is left hanging until the surprise ending. Then, the movie scurries for a denouement.
Brendan Gleeson is interesting as an abusive guard, but his actions donโt negate Fleckโs. Instead, they make you think everyone in the film is on the take somehow. Whether it puts you in Jokerโs camp is up for you to decide but one manโs behavior doesnโt justify anotherโs.
Phillips revisits a key location from the first film but doesnโt get the same buzz. Itโs there as a reminder of the euphoria Fleck once felt.
To start the film, he uses an animated version of Joker and attempts to give this a bit more variety. Like all those familiar songs, itโs just extender for a film that has very little beef to extend.
Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix appear in "Joker: Folie ร Deux"
Phoenix is just as quirky as he once was; Gaga could have been good with the right direction. When they make eyes at each other during the trial, thereโs the hint that this could have been something. Instead, itโs just one more attempt to pick at the bones of Batman before the audience tires of seeing characters from DC Comicsโ inventory.
Longer than it should be (it clocks in at 138 minutes), โJoker: Folie a Deuxโ is toilet paper on the shoe of a film that had a unique rhythm and an original point of view.
Now, perhaps, itโs time to give the folks in Gotham a rest.
Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller
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Movies in a Minute: "Snack Shack"
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Movies in a Minute: "Five Nights at Freddy's"
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Movies in a Minute: โIndiana Jones And The Dial Of Destinyโ
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Movies in a Minute: โ80 for Bradyโ
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says โ80 for Bradyโ is really just a good idea that goes nowhere.
