Fans of Todd Phillips’ 2019 Joker are really hating on the follow up, Joker: Folie à Deux. I understand why they criticize this film in comparison to the first, but on its own, it’s a musical triumph.
Making a complete tonal shift and adding the extremely talented Lady Gaga to the cast really paid off. There are parts that are certainly uneven, but all of the flaws are imperative to the first Joker. I’d argue this new film is better than the first.
A Joker Musical? Yes! A Joker Musical.
The biggest change, of course, was making this new film a musical. While many people dislike this new direction, I think it really works. In fact, I think if this were the first film in the series, it would have been a success! Joker is a very dark, very miserable film, and for good reasons. It comments on the state of the mental health crisis seen across America and, as such, touches on very sad themes. This new film takes the plot of the first, and basically flushes it down the toilet. The addition of “Lee Quinn” and musical numbers make it a surprisingly whimsical affair.
The songs are chosen perfectly, capturing the 50s/60s era of musicals and big bands. One theme that is added to Folie à Deux is the timeless tale of tragic love. All of the songs are very romantic in a grand way, and it works very well with the new direction of the story. Some say the musical numbers interrupt the story, though I’d say they enhance the tired plot drastically. The original Joker lacked humor and heart, and Folie à Deux makes up for that tenfold.
How Joker Started
Despite Joaquin Phoenix returning as the Joker and the continuation of the story, these two films could not be more different. The first is an homage to the tragic tales of male loneliness, seen in Scorsese films such as Taxi Driver. Todd Phillips leans heavily into the darkness, seen from the perspective of a mentally ill, middle-aged man who thinks that society is to blame for all of his problems. (I think he and Joaquin Phoenix must have been going through it when they made the first one to be honest.) The plot of Joker is pretty thin, leading to an explosive and controversial finale that really got people talking.
With their new film, however, Phillips and Phoenix have shown a lot of growth. The world of Gotham is no longer as bleak and hopeless as it once was. It still has its share of disturbing and sad scenes, but they are balanced out with scenes of romance and musical pizazz. Folie à Deux is a showcase for this filmmaker and actor to try and right their wrongs, and I think they came pretty damn close. Unfortunately, the first film weighs down the second, as they feel the need to tie up loose ends and try to explain the thought process of the original story.
Gaga for Gaga!
The other obvious change in this sequel is the addition of Lee Quinn, played by the amazing Lady Gaga. What people should remember is that these films are not in any way based on comic book lore. Phillips is taking this character and creating a different version. While Lee Quinn is different from other iterations of the character, it’s for a reason. Arthur Fleck is not “The Joker”; he is the inspiration for the villain we know and love. I think the same could be said for Gaga’s Quinn.
Putting aside character comparisons, I must say that Gaga killed this role! She plays an equally disturbed figure, matching Phoenix’s madness. And, of course, the singing is tremendous. Both Gaga and Phoenix bring a raspy and haunting quality to these well known pop songs and show tunes. They also bring a crazed, devil-may-care attitude to their roles, while singing and gleefully committing crimes. The film has its weaknesses, but the strength of these two performers wholly makes up for anything that it lacks.
So, Why the Hate?
Fans of the film hate this movie for all of the reasons I love it. They hate the music, they hate the way the plot is handled, and they hate the addition of Lady Gaga. Not to get too deep, but as someone who’s watched thousands of films, I have a theory. I think that, to an extent, your opinion of a movie is directly linked to your opinion of yourself. What the heck am I talking about? Film as an art form has always been a reflection of life, more specifically, a reflection of the self. The film asks you to identify with the characters it’s presenting to you. This can be taken too far of course, as many young men idolize Patrick Bateman, Travis Bickle, and Jordan Belfort for all the wrong reasons.
I think that the first Joker was trying to criticize this concept of idolization and self-reflection in film. I also think that this new Joker does a much better job of deconstructing this common misconception. Phillips is literally making fun of the first film, exploding on the scene with love songs and wacky musical numbers. The critics are divided across the board on this one, though I’m sure there are a number of them that read a film’s themes the wrong way.
A lot of them think it’s an underwhelming sequel, that the music is unnecessary, and that the tone is all over the place. These writers are asleep. They’ve lost their love of film. That may just be my opinion, but you see it everywhere these days. Joker: Folie à Deux is a riotous, romantic, musical epic. I may be alone in my views, but hey, that’s life!
