By Mr. Will Wong
Let me preface this by saying that I enjoyed 2019’s JOKER very much. Joaquin Phoenix’s transformative and humanizing portrayal of DC Comics’ most iconic villain was chilling and changed our concept of the origins story forever. Let me also state that none of the issues affecting Todd Phillips‘ followup, are due to the the outstanding work of its two lead actors. Disappointingly, the Film swings big… and misses.
Following the events of JOKER, we reunite with Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) as he must go to trial to prove that he is mentally unwell, and that the string of murders he committed were committed as a result of having dissociative disorder done by a fragment of his personality, Joker. While in music therapy lessons, he properly meets Lee Quinzel /Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) after exchanging glances in passing prior. She ignites the fire within him to fight the fight so that they can build a life together. And just as things were going so well for Arthur and he was on his best behaviour behind bars.
We don’t know what the rationale was behind Phillips‘ decision to make this Film a Musical. This isn’t just a story with some musical numbers sprinkled throughout. It is a full-blown production as the lead characters break into big band numbers mid-sentence. And while this is fine and somewhat of a thematic continuation to some of the musicality we saw in the previous Film, simply stated, this is all way too much.
The excessive musical numbers adversely impact the pacing of the Film and overall the final product feels about 30 minutes too long, just as we’re pleading for the finish line. The bloated songlist adds little to the story nor our connection to Arthur and his story – and Lee‘s too for that matter. That being said, Phoenix‘s rendition of “The Joker” by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, is a real showstopper.
The biggest shame here is that Phoenix truly delivers yet another tour-de-force performance, but it is drowned-out by all the noise. He is just as good here as he was in the previous film, but has way more work cut out for him as he sings and dances his way through this near two-and-a-half-hour romp. The Oscar winner presents Arthur/Joker as a human being grappling with mental illness and the realization that his ‘best’ version of himself is the one associated with the heinous acts he’s committed. This is what makes Phoenix‘s portrayal so unique from any other.
And Lady Gaga‘s greatness needs little reminder, though her Lee is relegated to that of an obsessive fan/lover who carries a lot of the Film’s weight musically. There are moments where I felt her vocal deliverly felt too close to the way Gaga would have delivered it, rather than Lee. I gladly would have traded 30 minutes of musical numbers for more development of her story and motives.
I didn’t hate it, yet I didn’t love it. Surely I can’t be the only one feeling overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time by it all.
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX in theatres October 4, 2024.
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