Joker: Folie à Deux
Hello everyone! I hope your day or evening is going well. Other topics are on my to-do list, but after my movie "experience" with Joker: Folie à Deux, I decided the other topics could wait.
Yes, Joker 2 (and that is what I call the movie going forward) was just that impactful.
My best friend (aka Mini Truth) was also with me. We tend to go to the movies together. The main exception is horror; I tend to watch those films alone. That is ... when I find one "going to the movies" worthy. Yes, the remake of Speak No Evil is on that list. Yes, I will discuss the movie in a future Unleashed Truth.
Before I dive in, here are some things to know:
(1) This movie (for those who did not realize it when seeing the trailers) is a MUSICAL. If you do not like musicals or musical elements in your movies, there's no need to read this review. You will not like Joker 2. Forget that this sequel even existed.
(2) As tempted as I am to give spoilers (due to my strong feelings about this movie), I have decided to refrain. I want to allow others to immerse in DC's own Multiverse of Madness (you will discover if I'm being flattering or sarcastic) to see if my feelings are justified.
(3) I did want Mini Truth to join me. Yet, I am eager to cover other topics. However, if she wants to do her own separate spiel on Joker 2, I will not stop her.
Unleashed Speaks
When I heard whispers there would be a sequel to Joker, my first thought was, "Why"? To me, it did not make any sense.
Although I was uncertain if I would like this rendition of Joker, seeing Joaquin Phoenix's interpretation of one of my favorite villains in DC was the one I didn't know I needed.
For me, Joaquin's Joker was up to par with Heath Ledger's portrayal. That's saying loads because of how much I loved Heath Ledger in that role along with Jack Nicholson. When Joaquin won the Academy Award for his performance in Joker, I felt it was well-deserved.
However, Joaquin's acting was not the only thing impressive about the first film. Joker delved into some universal social issues. The mistreatment of those you don't understand. What happens when those who are supposed to assist with mental illness fail. When the powers that be decide what Social programs are important and what should be eliminated. Joker was not only how society was back then; it remains a reflection of how it is now.
Is it bad taste to cheer for the bad guy? Perhaps. Yet, it is Arthur Fleck's journey to be accepted (only to have it fail) that plays a part in Joker's thriving. My understanding of Joker does not wash away the condemnation of the savagery of his actions. It makes for an interesting, captivating villain.
When it was further revealed that Joker 2 was going to be a musical, asking "why" along with being utterly confused ... that was my headspace. Nothing about how the first Joker ended even warranted (1) a sequel and (2) a musical sequel. Yet, if there were loose threads (some deserve to remain loose) that they wanted to address in the 2nd movie, perhaps there was a slim chance that the 2nd movie had a purpose.
I was torn, yet Joaquin had signed on to do this.
Unpopular opinion: As much as I like Lady Gaga, she was not the determining factor in whether I saw this movie. For others, she made the difference.
Before going to the theater, I told Mini Truth about a few factors (in no particular order) that would automatically make me dislike Joker 2.
(1) If there was no storyline
(2) If anything was done to annihilate the architecture of the 1st movie
(3) If there was no character development
(4) The musical numbers only being used to cover up poor storytelling and/or bloat the playtime of the movie
(5) A crappy ending
I did not give credence to some of the early shorts that hated Joker 2 solely because it was a musical. One could tell by the trailers that it would be. It was like hating the movie version of The Color Purple knowing it was based on the Broadway musical.
Trying to keep an open mind, Mini Truth and I made the journey to the movie theater, got our snacks, and sussed out previews to take stock of what we would watch in the future ...
Then, the movie started.
It felt like the longest two hours and eighteen minutes of my life.
I did not think Joker 2 could hit all the dislike points I cited ... and yet it did.
No matter how well the actors perform their roles, it does not compensate for lackluster writing or sluggish pacing. On top of that, it makes elements (cue musical songs) that were never to be included in the first place ... stand out.
The ending had me (and the other people in the theater) the most outraged. The moment the credits rolled, everyone stormed out. Mini Truth and I remained behind, wondering ...
Rating
#UtterShite
Moral(s) of this failed tale:
(1) Some projects do not need a sequel.
(2) Projects need checks and balances. Joker 2 is what happens when there is none.
(3) Let's say, hypothetically, that the first movie's success was a mere fluke. Why roll the dice for a sequel for something that had no initial demand in the first place?
(4) Taking a beloved character and making it into a shell of itself usually doesn't end well.
Needless to say, I do not recommend Joker 2.
