‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is a Long-Burning (Musical) Fuse to Nowhere
metroweekly.comJust when I was ready to declare that Joker: Folie à Deux isn’t a musical, it turned into one. Despite any confusion or misdirection that preceded its release, and notwithstanding that the film eases slowly into having its characters say their piece in song, director Todd Phillips’ sequel to his grim 2019 hit Joker eventually does let its musical-loving freak flag fly.Though, unlike the Hollywood musicals the movie references through posters, clips, and song and design choices, Folie à Deux doesn’t exude joy or winsome romance.
It’s been two years since the events of Joker, and Gotham City is still the same old miserable metropolis.That’s Gotham City, New York, to be exact, as revealed at the trial of Arthur Fleck — Joker — who, inexplicably has become patron saint to the town’s miserable masses since he killed five people in the first movie. (Only, it’s actually six.
The authorities still aren’t aware that Fleck killed his mother, in addition to known victims like TV talk show host Murray Franklin, whom the whole world witnessed Fleck assassinate live on the air.)Not a cackling cartoon, but a scarily disturbed menace, who just happens to cackle at inopportune times, Fleck claims he was put on Earth to spread joy, but he’s far from a funny madman.
The movie, written by Phillips and his Joker co-author Scott Silver, often plays the guy’s madness for laughs, but Joaquin Phoenix, reprising his Oscar-winning role, doesn’t take the portrayal lightly.
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