Joker: Folie a Deux - The Sequel Nobody Wanted

Summary

The reviewer expresses disappointment in *Joker 2*, feeling that it fails to justify its existence as a sequel. Despite strong performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the movie is seen as unnecessary and lacking the complexity of the original. The film reverts Arthur Fleck's character back to his weaker self and features musical numbers that, while entertaining, serve more as distractions from an uninspired drama. The story explores Arthur's trial and relationships, but the courtroom scenes feel like dry recaps, diminishing the ambiguity that made the first *Joker* so compelling.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The first Joker movie was an unexpected success, overcoming many factors that should have worked against it.
• 💡 Joker's small, intimate, and complex story resonated with audiences, largely due to Joaquin Phoenix's outstanding performance.
• 🤔 There were initial doubts about the necessity of a Joker sequel, especially given its announcement as a musical starring Lady Gaga.
• ⚖️ Joker 2 picks up after Arthur Fleck's arrest and confinement in Arkham Asylum, with the plot centering around his trial and romantic relationship with a woman named Lee Quinn.
• 🃏 The film explores Arthur’s Joker persona and whether it is a split personality or part of him all along.
• 🎭 While Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga give strong performances, the film struggles with the same compelling intensity as the first movie.
• 💔 Joker 2 focuses on the idea of celebrity, myth vs. reality, but doesn't deliver the same impact as the original film.
• 📉 Arthur's character regresses, undoing his final transformation from the first movie, which feels like a frustrating deconstruction to the reviewer.
• 🎶 The musical elements, although performed well, feel like distractions from the film's otherwise uninspiring drama.
• 😕 Ultimately, Joker 2 feels like a bloated, unnecessary sequel that fails to live up to the original’s ambiguity and psychological depth.

Q & A

What was the initial perception of the first *Joker* movie according to the script?

The first *Joker* movie was initially perceived as a risky project with many potential flaws. It was a low-budget film about a Batman villain that no one seemed to want, directed by Todd Phillips, known for comedies. The film also faced accusations from the media of promoting violence and misogyny.

What made the first *Joker* movie unexpectedly successful?

The first *Joker* movie became successful because it told a small, intimate, and complex story of a man pushed into madness by an indifferent society. Joaquin Phoenix’s performance and the film's ability to raise more questions than answers contributed to its unexpected success.

What concerns did the script's author express about a sequel to the *Joker*?

The author was perplexed by the decision to make a sequel to *Joker*, especially because the first film felt complete and did not require continuation. The author was also concerned about the sequel being a musical co-starring Lady Gaga, fearing it could undermine the integrity of the original.

How did the author feel after watching *Joker 2*?

The author found *Joker 2* to be a dull, bloated, and ultimately unnecessary movie. Although there were talented people working on the film and the ending sparked discussions, the movie felt uninspired and failed to answer the question of why it even existed.

What is the central storyline of *Joker 2* as described in the script?

In *Joker 2*, Arthur Fleck is locked up in Arkham Asylum after being arrested for the murders in the first film. His lawyer argues insanity, while prosecutor Harvey Dent pushes for the death penalty. Arthur starts a romance with a woman named Lee Quinn, but the film questions whether her interest is in Arthur or his Joker persona.

What themes are explored in *Joker 2* based on the script?

The movie explores themes such as the intoxicating danger of celebrity and the divide between myth and reality. It questions how much of Arthur’s personality was the Joker all along and delves into the interactions between Arthur and Lee Quinn, leaving the audience wondering which moments were real.

How does the portrayal of Arthur Fleck in *Joker 2* differ from the first film?

In *Joker 2*, Arthur regresses to his timid, weak personality from the beginning of the first film, which the author finds frustrating. The deconstruction of Arthur's character feels like a regression instead of development, undoing the cathartic moment when Arthur embraced his Joker persona at the end of the first movie.

What is the author’s view on the musical numbers in *Joker 2*?

Surprisingly, the author enjoyed the musical performances, particularly those by Lady Gaga, but ultimately felt they were used as distractions to cover up a weak and uninspired narrative. The musical numbers provided spectacle but couldn’t elevate the film’s dull courtroom scenes.

How does the courtroom narrative affect the story of *Joker 2*?

The courtroom scenes in *Joker 2* feel like a dry recap of the first film, destroying the ambiguity that made the original intriguing. Instead of allowing for multiple interpretations, the film lays out exactly what happened, which the author views as a waste of the original’s mystery.

What conclusion does the author reach about *Joker 2*?

The author concludes that *Joker 2* is an unnecessary sequel. Despite the talents involved, the film failed to justify its existence and left the author feeling bored and disconnected at times, unlike the original *Joker*.