As a long-time fan of the Dark Knight saga, I must confess that my heart skipped a beat when I heard about Joker: Folie à Deux. The first film was a masterpiece, and Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime was nothing short of brilliant. However, this sequel left me feeling rather disillusioned.
It seems the Chaotic Villain of Gotham City is facing a challenging period, and it’s important to clarify that this has no connection with Batman. The Joker may have thought he had endured the toughest trials in ‘Suicide Squad’, directed by David Ayer, but his troubles have escalated since then, following an initial false sense of hope. Currently, the reception towards “Joker: Madness Duet” is negative, with only 33% approval on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer and 31% on Popcommeter, demonstrating that both critics and viewers believe it’s a disorganized project. On IMDb, its average rating is 5.3. Furthermore, James Gunn has expressed his distance from the film, stating it’s a Warner Bros. production, not a DC Studios project.
It’s generally agreed that choosing a career in music was a regrettable decision. In the year 2024, Joaquin Phoenix, not Ryan Gosling, seems to be taking the brunt of the criticism. He’s been accused of leading the plot astray, with recent news suggesting that the concept originated from a dream he had. However, what exactly went wrong remains to be seen.
As a movie connoisseur, I must confess that the DC Universe has never been more tangled than it is now. But should we really point fingers at the genre for this chaos? Remember when “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies” gracefully demonstrated that a superhero musical could be a hit, provided it maintains a playful tone, avoids a French title (no offense to our Gallic friends), and follows a few other clever guidelines?
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies Never Takes Itself Seriously
In “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies,” our young superhero team feels overlooked because everyone else has movies of their own. Determined to change this situation, they venture to Hollywood with hopes of breaking into the film industry. Unfortunately, their plans are thrown off track when Deathstroke, also known as Slade Wilson, arrives and creates chaos.
In this lighthearted movie, the characters show no fear of danger yet maintain a playful spirit throughout. From the outset, viewers meet a group of Titans who are all about having fun. Upon encountering Balloon Man at a crime scene, they break into a rap to present themselves, but get so wrapped up in their rhymes that they overlook the necessity of apprehending him. As a result, the Justice League steps in to reprimand them for their negligence.
As I sat in the cinema, I found myself tapping my feet to an incredible 22 additional tracks that felt like they were straight out of my favorite pop culture moments. This clever approach kept reminding fans of beloved characters and franchises why they fell in love, making us appreciate the wink and nod. Plus, every note sounded fantastic because the Grammy-nominated maestro, Jared Faber, aka J-Radical, was the genius behind the music.
In addition to its great music, this one is particularly enjoyable due to its abundance of humor. There are numerous jokes, such as one referencing Stan Lee, and they all contribute significantly since dancing often coincides with laughter and joy. Conversely, the movie “Folie à Deux” only sporadically includes laughter and play, but those moments are brief.
Musicals require an atmosphere that’s lively and festive, like a grand celebration. Unfortunately, Joker 2 fails to deliver this vibe as it primarily focuses on the interactions between a select few characters. In contrast, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies brings almost the entire DC universe onto the dance floor, with superheroes like Batman (voiced by Kal-El Cage, son of Nicolas Cage), Superman (Nicolas Cage himself), Aquaman, Green Lantern, and the Flash, to name a few, ready to join in.
The Joker Is a Joke in Folie à Deux… In the Worst Way
In “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies”, the characters engage in lighthearted banter, whereas “Joker: Folie à Deux” struggles with a lack of clear narrative direction. The charm and appeal that characterized the original production are absent here, as if all the elements have been drained of their luster. It’s intriguing to note that prior to its debut at the Venice Film Festival, director Todd Phillips and star Lady Gaga asserted repeatedly that it wasn’t a musical. However, the trailers showed minimal musical numbers, suggesting an intent to be viewed as a serious production. Unfortunately, this approach missed the mark.
“Why so serious?”
Similar to the first movie, the main character predominantly maintains a somber demeanor. However, unlike the real Joker who takes charge, this portrayal dwells on self-pity and allows himself to be controlled by the legal system. In court, he decides to act as his own lawyer, which is quite unexpected. Before coming across an adult Batman, this is a significant deviation from character, with repercussions. Feeling betrayed by her controlling partner’s abandonment of their shared beliefs, Lee (Lady Gaga) makes the decision to leave him.
A portion of fans believe that Folie à Deux might not appeal to everyone, instead catering to those who recognize Todd Phillips’ unique genius. However, given that the Joker is universally owned, his portrayal could have been made more accessible for wider enjoyment. Trying to revisit the psychological aspects of the original film was commendable, but perhaps the sequel should have maintained a sense of curiosity and agility in its storytelling throughout. Keeping in mind that this Joker was once a stand-up comedian, it’s worth considering a more nimble approach for the narrative.
The majority of the musical numbers in the movie aren’t sad, yet the overall mood seems inconsistent and unclear. Moreover, Todd Phillips aimed to create an exceptional courtroom drama, but the film lacks convincing arguments to support this genre shift. Also, since the audience isn’t meant to feel melancholic, the songs fail to resonate as deeply as they do in films like “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies”.
DC Should Probably Leave the Joker Alone for a While
Instead of constantly reusing the Joker character, DC could have benefited from leaving Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker confined within Arkham Asylum at the end of the 2019 movie, making it a standalone story. On a broader scale, it might be beneficial for DC to take a break from the Joker for a while, given how entertaining he is. If The Batman and The Penguin have shown us anything, it’s that there are countless intriguing villains in Gotham City waiting to be explored if told through the right narrative. Who would have thought The Riddler could evolve into a modern-day Zodiac Killer or that Oz could become Tony Soprano 2.0? With such a rich fictional world, it’s high time DC utilized it effectively and creatively.
Avoiding the antics of the Joker offers a more lenient evaluation, as he is widely regarded as DC Comics’ most iconic villain. Every tale about him undergoes intense scrutiny from both fans and critics. Each minor flaw gets amplified and exposed. Conversely, when another villain takes center stage, everyone remains patient and curious to see what unfolds. The DC universe has faced numerous challenges on the big screen, and for it to prosper, it must steer clear of such demanding roles. Perhaps it’s time to let Black Mask or Two-Face take the lead in the next film, and things should fall into place.
Joker: Folie à Deux
is currently showing in theaters in the U.S.
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2024-10-14 00:01