Reviews for Joker: Folie à Deux
have been inconsistent, with some describing it as a combination
of "brilliance" and "boredom." The Oscar-winning performance of Joaquin Phoenix
as Arthur Fleck/Joker returns in the movie, and pop sensation Lady Gaga plays
Joker's romantic interest Harley Quinn. The much anticipated follow-up to Todd
Phillips' multibillion dollar success opened to a packed house at the Venice Film
Festival on Wednesday, but reviews were split. Some praised Joker: Folie à Deux as superior' to
the critically acclaimed 2019 movie and praised Phoenix and Gaga's performances, while others
denounced it as 'derivative' and lacking in 'fun.' "Audaciously different in style from
the original, not quite as electrifying, but bold and brilliant all the same," was
how Brian Viner described the film musical. In his review, Owen Gleiberman seemed
less than thrilled, noting that while the "cracked jukebox musical" had a bold idea,
"in a basic way it's an overly cautious sequel." David Ehrlich of IndieWire had a somewhat
more critical stance, calling the 138-minute film "boring, flat, and a criminal waste of Lady
Gaga" and stating that it "feels bad on purpose." "Phillips has produced a corporate pop
spectacle that virtually demands to be seen as something else," the speaker continued. This is a film that subtly withholds from viewers
all they have been taught to expect from it, first with a gentle touch and then with a clear
and present hostility akin to a dagger to the gut. "And for that reason above all others, Folie
à Deux takes on the structure of a classic musical: No other genre makes it so simple to
recognize all the fun you're missing out on." On the other hand, Joker: Folie à Deux,
according to Alex Harrison of ScreenRant, is a more sophisticated follow-up meant
to rile up fans of the first movie. "I think Joker: Folie à Deux is better than
its predecessor because it makes more sense when discussing fan culture than it does when
discussing mental illness," the critic said. Pete Hammond of Deadline calls the film 'excellent' and commends the
leads for their performances. Phoenix is a master of this character, and he
takes a chance by tapping, dancing, singing, and selling the part like no other. If not
surpassing his Oscar-winning performance as the Joker, then at least he finds a way to take the
character in a completely unexpected direction. 'Gaga exudes style and modesty; she's not the
Harley Quinn that we identify with Margot Robbie; rather, she's her own person, casually
dressed, and convincingly displaying love and bonding with the Joker and, above
all, the man responsible for the makeup.' Joker: Folie à Deux is "narratively a little
thin and at times dull," according to The Hollywood Reporter. This sequel lacks a strong
narrative base and is instead more of a conceit. More so than Joker: Folie à Deux, the film
strips the villain of his humanity and turns him into a hollow shell affected by mental
illness and childhood trauma. Which implies there's not much we didn't learn the previous
time,' David Rooney of the outlet continued. "There's a great supporting cast
and a barnstorming first act, but Todd Phillips's much-hyped Gotham sequel proves claustrophobic and repetitive,"
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian observed. According to The Times, the sequel was
"messy, lifeless" and "didn't need to exist." Kevin Maher of the source commented, "The
director Todd Phillips changed his mind and the result is a derivative musical. He said
there would be no follow-up to the original." 'Mostly, Arthur is acted upon, even when he
thinks he's seizing control,' wrote Allison Willmore of Vulture, criticizing the film as "a
punching bag for the world and, more importantly, for the director, who subjects the character
to so many indignities that he actually stops being pitiable and starts resembling the
punchline to a very long, shaggy joke." "It feels like a joke on us by
the end of Joker: Folie à Deux." October 4, 2024 is when Joker: Folie à
Deux is scheduled to open in theaters. It is the much awaited sequel to 2019's Academy
Award-winning Joker, which went on to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time with
over $1 billion in box office revenue worldwide. In the sequel, Arthur Fleck
is kept in an Arkham asylum as he awaits trial for his crimes as the Joker. According to a press release, "As
he struggles with his dual identity, Arthur not only discovers true love, but also
the music that's always been inside him."