After the release of Joker in 2019, fans waited five years for the sequel Folie À Deux to premiere. The first movie was a total cultural reset, captivating the audience with its dark psychological portrayal of Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness. Joaquin Phoenix’s performance, the gritty atmosphere, and the film’s portrayal of mental illness and societal neglect made it much more than a typical comic book movie, leaving fans eager for more as they anticipated Joker 2. Given the popularity of the first movie, fans’ expectations were high, but unfortunately, the sequel was not only overhyped but may have been one of the most disappointing films of the year.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, or The Joker, and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, Folie À Deux follows Fleck as he spirals deeper into the madness that began in the first movie. Also in the film, Harley Quinn, a psychiatrist, falls in love with him and adopts his radical world views. The film explores their twisted relationship as Arthur undergoes the harsh prison life and intense court trials for his potential release back into Gotham City, as well as his realization that everyone loves Joker, the persona he hides behind, but no one cares about Arthur as a person.
The tone of this film completely veers away from the dark, gritty atmosphere that made Joker so compelling, shifting dramatically from chaos and violence to an upbeat musical. The musical parts felt out of place, transforming scenes that should’ve been tense and disturbing into a rehearsed sing-a-long. Instead of heightening the madness of Joker, the filmmakers dulled it by making the scenes feel overly theatrical rather than raw chaos like Gotham City should be. The producers’ bright idea of making this movie into a musical downplayed the violence and broke the immersion.
Additionally, this movie did not build on the transformation of Arthur Fleck into The Joker like I had hoped. Rather, it continued to portray him as a helpless loser like he was in the beginning of the first film, negating the growth he made in that film. This is frustrating for fans who expected to see him evolve into the cunning and crazy character that we all know from Batman comics and movies. Many were hoping for a narrative that emphasized his dive into chaos, but the sequel left most viewers wanting more depth and development with the character.
Considering that Joker was such a big hit, you’d think that high box office numbers would be almost guaranteed for Folie À Deux. Creating a successful and entertaining sequel shouldn’t have been that hard, yet the filmmakers somehow managed to find a way to make it a letdown, ultimately leaving most viewers feeling disconnected and uninterested. Although the ending was an interesting lead up to the birth of the real Joker, it still felt unsatisfying, with a twist at the end that made the movie feel pointless. Rather than building on the climax of the first film, it took a turn that left viewers feeling disappointed, failing to fully explore Arthur Fleck’s transformation into the Joker, causing the film to miss its true potential.