Welcome to "Joker: Folie à Deux," where someone clearly thought that the Joker needed a side of show tunes with his madness. I mean, why would we want a coherent follow-up to a dark, gritty masterclass in misunderstanding society?
No, let’s slap on some catchy choruses and jazzy dance numbers because nothing says psychological distress quite like a tap dance! I half expected to hear a cheerful “Let’s get this party started!” right before someone committed an act of villainy. How delightful!
Now let’s address the pacing, which can only be described as “snail on a leisurely stroll.” If you’ve ever dined at a slow-food restaurant and thought, “This could use more existential dread,” congratulations—you’ll love this movie! At a leisurely crawl that makes molasses look like it’s on a caffeine high, the film meanders through scenes like a lost tourist in a strange city. I spent half the time wondering if I’d accidentally wandered into a meditation session instead of a cinematic experience. I mean, if I wanted to wait, I could have just stood in line for a decent cup of coffee!
And then there’s the plot—oh wait, I must have misplaced that somewhere between the awkward dance sequences and the existential crisis. The story feels as coherent as a drunk toddler trying to recap their day. I thought I was watching a sequel to a beloved character but ended up with a surreal art installation that required extensive explanation—like, “Is this even real, or did I accidentally consume hallucinogenic gummy bears?” I can just imagine studio executives high-fiving each other after screening it, thinking, “Look! We’ve truly outdone ourselves with this ridiculousness!”
Let’s not forget the performances—because who could? Joaquin Phoenix puts on a masterclass in acting, delivering a solemn performance that’s both haunting and absolutely baffling once he breaks into song about his feelings. Lady Gaga joins the ride, but it turns out she can also ruin a classic Joker moment with a ridiculous “la-la-la.” By the time she twirled into another solo with more flair than a peacock at a fashion show, I was half-expecting her to duet with a rubber chicken. Because, hey, at least that would have brought some much-needed humor to this absurdity!
Now, onto the cinematography, which seems to be on a mission to make everyone dizzy! Every transition was more jarring than realizing you accidentally walked into a clown convention instead of a support group. One minute, the film’s diving into the depths of despair, and the next, it’s disco inferno! I think there was one scene where they panned to a room of disoriented cats, and honestly, they looked like they were ready to film their own movie about avoiding this disaster. If there were an Oscar for capturing confusion, this film would be a shoo-in!
In the end, "Joker: Folie à Deux" is the cinematic equivalent of biting into a chocolate-covered avocado—surprisingly unpleasant. If this movie were a character, it would be the awkward kid at a party who tries to break the ice by telling everyone they’re a juggler but is really just tossing around their own insecurities. The film is a bizarre blend of irony and melodrama, and yet here I am, left with questions like: “Is it deeper art or just a dumpster fire outfitted in sequins?” If it’s a joker, it’s definitely one that’s lost its punchlines and is now awkwardly trying to sing songs about its feelings. Bravo, Hollywood, bravo! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to scrub my brain with cat memes to cleanse myself from this experience.
