Our company, Jules Family Vision, was once again honored to attend a fans’ first screening of Warner Bros.’ latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux, held on September 30th, at the IMAX theater at Assembly Row in Somerville.

Our co-founder, actor Jimmy C. Jules, shares his impressions of the film in this Joker: Folie à Deux Review, offering a critical look at the performances, direction, and overall narrative direction taken with this sequel.

The movie is scheduled to be released October 4th, 2024.

JOKER: FOLIE à DEUX REVIEW – Official Trailer.

Jimmy was initially excited about attending the screening, eager to see how the story of Arthur Fleck in Joker: Folie à Deux would unfold after the acclaimed first installment. He recalls the gripping experience of the original Joker as a deep exploration of a broken man’s psyche, with each scene rich in metaphor and social commentary. However, his enthusiasm quickly diminished as the film unfolded.

Despite the hopes of many fans, Jimmy felt that Joker: Folie à Deux ultimately came across as a bewildering departure from its predecessor, feeling more like a cash grab than a meaningful continuation of the story.

The shift to a musical format was particularly jarring. He expressed that the musical numbers often interrupted rather than enhanced the narrative flow. “Every time the music started, it felt like the story was dragged to a halt,” he lamented, suggesting that while musicals have their place, they didn’t mesh well with the dark character study central to the Joker’s identity.

UK premiere of “Joker: Folie à Deux.” 

As Jimmy watched the film, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the events and themes of the sequel were almost self-sabotaging, especially considering the original’s success. “The incorporation of Lady Gaga, while it might thrill some, felt like a strange diversion,” he remarked. Rather than enhancing the character dynamics, her scenes often seemed limited and poorly integrated, leaving fans of the comic book lore dissatisfied. He found the decisions regarding the character of Harvey Dent, played by Harry Lawley, particularly troubling, feeling that the performance lacked the weight and depth expected.

A Sequel That Misses the Mark

In our Joker: Folie à Deux Review, Jimmy reflected, “The movie aspired to be something profound, but it ended up feeling like a series of sketches that often didn’t land.” He noted that while Joaquin Phoenix once again delivered a strong performance as Arthur Fleck, the film became a confusing patchwork of courtroom drama, musical numbers, and character development that felt flat.

Instead of delving into the complexity of the Joker’s character and his relationship with Harleen Quinzel (Gaga’s character), the film veered off course, featuring long trial scenes that retread the previous film’s events.

Joker Folie A Duex Behind The Scene

The cinematography, however, showed promise. Jimmy praised the IMAX visuals and the sound design as notable highlights that could have lent themselves to a far more compelling narrative. “There could have been a wonderful film within this framework,” he noted, suggesting that a more coherent story focusing on Arthur’s journey, with his character’s anguish at the forefront, would have resonated more significantly with audiences.

In stark contrast to the visceral emotional landscapes explored in the original Joker, the sequel suggests that both Arthur and the audience are caught in its disjointed narrative. Rather than reflecting the relationship between Arthur and Harley Quinn, the title Folie à Deux seems to capture the shared sense of chaos between Arthur and the viewers. The idea that love, something Arthur desperately sought, could be muddied in such a fragmented environment left Jimmy feeling unfulfilled. “It felt like Phillips was trying to be clever and subversive,” he said, “yet ended up alienating everyone who tuned in hoping for a continuation of a complex story.”

Our Joker: Folie à Deux Review also highlights the film’s shift in focus towards the idea of the Joker’s relationship with fame and the fickleness of public adoration, a notion that landed awkwardly. As for the ending, it hints at a potential Harley Quinn spin-off, but Jimmy is skeptical about whether viewers will be interested, given that Gaga’s character barely feels fleshed out.

Ultimately, Joker: Folie à Deux left Jimmy pondering why the movie ended with such an ambiguous note. “It’s as if Phillips didn’t know what he wanted to say,” he stated. “I can’t shake the feeling that they’re hoping audiences will just accept whatever is presented without question.” For those hoping for a gripping continuation of Arthur Fleck’s tale, Jimmy suggests caution: “Maybe it’s worth waiting for this one to hit streaming rather than rushing to see it in theaters.”

As the credits rolled, Jimmy was left contemplating the film’s shortcomings amidst his hopes for a deeper exploration of its themes. “It’s unfortunate,” he concluded, “but this sequel seems to have lost its way. While it presents an audacious take on a classic character, it may very well disappoint the very fans who adored the first film.