Ever since its Venice Film Festival debut,Joker: Folie à Deuxhas been catching the attention of the world, butoften for the wrong reasons. Compared to the original’s 69%, just a few weeks ago, the sequel had acquired an underwhelming but still fair61% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Now, following a wider release of the film as it edges closer to its October 4 US theatrical nationwide bow, the movie sits at anunfunny 48% from 88 reviews.
The film’s poor score is despite its incredible central cast, with the likes ofLady Gaga,Brendan Gleeson,Catherine Keener, andSteve CooganjoiningJoaquin Phoenixin reprising his Academy Award-winning role as Arthur Fleck. To have the opportunity to work with such an incredible icon not once but twice in this franchise is a dream come true for directorTodd Phillips, with his delight over his time with Phoenix mentioned during thedirector’s interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub.
“It’s a dream for a director. It’s what you want, and, quite frankly, a lot of actorsdodo that. Maybe not to the extent that Joaquin does, but you always want to try different things. You certainly wanna give them an environment and a freedom that makes them feel safe to do those things. I think Joaquin, with me, really feels that. So for me and Jeff [Groth], who I edit with,we’re in heaven when we go through Joaquin’s stuff.Because there is no set way, and it’s like, “Oh, this is feeling like the scene before it. I wish there was another way to cut this.” Well, there is, because we have these “Take Sixes” on each one that are entirely different and will give it a whole different meaning or energy or emotion or whatever the thing is. So what it’s like is, it’s an absolute dream really.”
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Struggles to Reach the Level of its Predecessor
Word of mouth spreads fast in this industry, withnews ofJoker: Folie à Deux’s fallibilities reaching all corners of the globe quicker than you can say “smile”. An awkward blend of courtroom drama and musical has seemed to frustrate many critics, with some labeling the film an unquestionable disappointment. Still, it’s true thatthe sequel is likely a victim of its predecessor’s success, with the possibility of reaching the same heady levels of financial and critical acclaim unlikely. Nevertheless, the perceived lack of quality of the second helping will always render those who love the first outing frustrated. Speaking in hisreview for Collider,Martin Tsaisaid:
“Phillips had one job, which was to recreate the jittery cringe of the originalJokerto capitalize on the commercial and awards successes. A middling courtroom tale and half-baked musical is not the kind of victory lap anyone wants. Your best bet is to go rewatchThe People’s Jokerand pretend this never happened.”
Joker: Folie à Deux’s Rotten Tomatoes score has dropped to 48%. You can catch the film in theaters on October 4.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux explores Arthur Fleck’s ongoing struggle with his dual identity as he unexpectedly discovers love and unleashes his hidden musical talent. Set against a backdrop of societal unrest, Arthur’s journey intertwines personal transformation with chaotic encounters, leading to profound shifts in his life and the world around him.
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