Movie Review: ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

Todd Phillips’ follow-up to his 2018 effort smacks of self-indulgence, and largely wastes the talents of Lady Gaga with a role that lets her sing but little else.

(L to R) Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as Lee Quinzel in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Joker: Folie à Deux', a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

Opening in theaters on October 4th, ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ brings us back to the world of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) and introduces a love interest for the troubled character in the shape of Lee Quinzel, played by Lady Gaga.

Unfortunately, surely only the biggest fans of Todd Phillips’ first film are likely to find much to enjoy here –- and even then it’s unlikely –– as the sequel sinks into indulgence and fantasy as the expense of real emotion or actual drama.

Will ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ put a smile on your face?

(L to R) Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix in 'Joker: Folie à Deux.' Photo: Todd Phillips' Instagram.

How do you follow up a moody, intriguing take on a well-used character that managed to sidestep all the established tropes and explored mental health and the spread of chaos in a tinderbox city all at once?

If you’re Todd Phillips, director of the award-winning ‘Joker,’ your answer, at least according to the sequel he has made, you double down on your star’s quirks and add in a whole lot of musical sequences that are ostensibly designed to carry the emotional underpinnings of your story but leave them flailing.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix, director Todd Phillips and Leigh Gill on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Joker: Folie à Deux', a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

Reuniting with ‘Joker’ co-writer Scott Silver for this long-winded follow-up, Phillips crafts another deep dive into the psyche of Arthur Fleck. Except this dive is not particularly deep, skirting the surface and going over some very familiar territory.

We learned a lot about Arthur’s trauma and issues in the original movie, but ‘Folie à Deux’ mostly provides more of the same. Who is Joker? Does Arthur truly believe he is a different chunk of his personality –– as his lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (played by Catherine Keener) is looking to cement as part of his insanity defense in his murder trial –– or was everything just Arthur’s actions alone?

(L to R) Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

That question are more are sort-of answered by the new film, but the script is largely geared towards a lot of fantastical sequences where Phoenix and Gaga belt out classic tunes looking to illuminate their inner lives. The problem is that all of that material feels like surface-level exploration.

Visually, the film is certainly still impressive, much as the first was, Phillips and returning cinematographer Lawrence Sher reuniting for a movie that exists in light and shadow, Arthur in particular wreathed in near constant smoke thanks to his endless cigarette habit.

When something dramatic does actually occur at the end, that too looks impressive. And the fantasy sequences have a staged look to them that works. It’s just a shame it’s all in the service of a dull screenplay.

Performances

(L to R) Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker and Lady Gaga as Lee Quinzel in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

With Phoenix naturally dominating, Gaga’s natural presence also shines through, and having her sing –– even if not to her normal performance level –– was a bonus.

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck

Joaquin Phoenix in Director Todd Phillips' ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.' Photo courtesy of Todd Phillips' Instagram account.

Phoenix won an Oscar for playing Fleck in the previous movie, and he does try to add on a few extra shades here. Problem is, even with the romantic arc of his relationship with Gaga’s Lee, there’s very little fresh to learn about him.

Lady Gaga as Lee

Lady Gaga in Director Todd Phillips' ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.' Photo courtesy of Todd Phillips' Instagram account.

The one truly new addition to the ‘Joker’ universe, it is, as expected, a very different take on the Harley Quinn character. Don’t expect much of the usual wild and wacky behavior that usually comes with Harley (with a couple of small exceptions during the fantasy songs), Gaga keeps it grounded.

Having proved her acting chops in previous roles, she’s a clear highlight in the film, though Lee isn’t exactly a rounded character, more a means to finding a new angle on Arthur.

Catherine Keener as Maryanne Stewart

(L to R) Steve Coogan as Paddy Myers, Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and Catherine Keener as Maryanne Stewart in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

Keener brings a quiet strength to her role as Arthur’s lawyer and does what she can with a relatively small role that most requires her to be empathetic in his case.

Brendan Gleeson as Jackie Sullivan

(L to R) Brendan Gleeson as Jackie Sullivan and Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Scott Garfield/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

One of Arthur’s big nemeses this time around, Gleeson brings gruff charisma to the role of one of the chief correctional officers at Arkham (where Fleck is imprisoned). He’s more than simply a brutal screw cracking down on his charges, and the actor is handed something to chew on in a few scenes –– and chew he does.

Supporting cast

(L to R) Harry Lawtey as Harvey Dent and Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

Pretty much everyone else is an archetype in search of a character –– Harry Lawtey has a few moments to shine as legal peacock Harvey Dent, while there is a welcome return for Zazie Beetz as Sophie, the neighbor Arthur imagined he was in a relationship with in ‘Joker.’ And a high point is the testimony of Arthur’s old workmate Gary Puddles, with actor Leigh Gill shining as he delivers a shellshocked account of his murderous actions.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

There’s the real feel of a wasted opportunity here, Phillips and Phoenix given free rein to spend the studio’s money on something that never quite lives up to the original movie’s promise.

For the most part, this all has the weight of an extended coda to the first movie, and a true disappointment. There’s still a chance it’ll be a success, but don’t go expecting to be truly entertained.

‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ receives 4.5 out of 10 stars.

Joker: Folie à Deux

"The world is a stage."

R2 hr 18 minOct 4th, 2024

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch Joker: Folie à Deux Online

What’s the plot of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’?

The ‘Joker’ sequel finds Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that's always been inside him.