‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Blu-ray Review

Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga,  Brendan Gleeson, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey | Written by Todd Phillips, Scott Silver | Directed by Todd Phillips

Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to Todd Phillips’ 2019 hit Joker, is an ambitious but ultimately misguided attempt to blend psychological drama with musical fantasy. While the original film’s gritty realism and subversive narrative struck a chord, this follow-up falters under the weight of its own pretensions, failing to deliver the emotional or thematic resonance it aspires to.

One of the most glaring issues lies in the film’s transformation into a musical. While the concept could have amplified the story’s exploration of Arthur Fleck’s fractured psyche, it instead comes across as incoherent and jarring. The elaborate musical numbers, such as Arthur and Harleen Quinzel’s (Lady Gaga) fantasy duets, feel disconnected from the grim, nihilistic tone of the story. This tonal dissonance ends up being both confusing and indulgent, detracting from the film’s psychological depth.

The narrative itself is also frustratingly thin. Picking up shortly after the events of the first film, Arthur’s journey in Arkham Asylum lacks the gripping tension of its predecessor. The drama that anchors the story feels drawn out, with much of the runtime consumed by redundant sequences and meandering subplots. The absence of dynamic action scenes or meaningful progression makes the film feel overly long and tiresome.

Though Joaquin Phoenix delivers his signature physicality and intensity as Arthur, his performance lacks the nuance of the original. Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker’s descent into madness veers into narcissistic exhibitionism, especially in his exaggerated musical performances. Lady Gaga’s Harleen Quinzel, while captivating in her moments of cruelty, does little to elevate the film, as her character remains underdeveloped and her motivations unconvincing.

Moreover, Folie à Deux struggles to justify its existence. It fails to expand meaningfully on the themes of the first film, instead retreading similar ground in a less impactful way. Its attempts to challenge comic book tropes feel forced and alienating, particularly for fans expecting a deeper exploration of the Joker mythos. But this over-reliance on the original film’s shock value comes off as self-indulgent.

While the visuals and musical direction occasionally shine, they cannot compensate for the film’s narrative shortcomings and tonal inconsistencies. Ultimately, Joker: Folie à Deux is an ambitious experiment that collapses under the weight of its own artistic aspirations, leaving audiences alienated and unsatisfied.

Special Features:

• Everything Must Go: Can I Have a Cigarette? (Part 1) – Explore the first three weeks at Arkham Asylum with insights from actors and filmmakers on the environment crafted for the film’s opening.
• Everything Must Go: Finding Lee (Part 2) – Discover how Gaga and Phoenix developed their characters, with Gaga adjusting her singing to embody Lee and bring fantasy sequences to life.
• Everything Must Go: A Hundred Films in One (Part 3) – Joaquin and Todd share a unique relationship, never repeating the same take twice.
• Everything Must Go: King of Nothing (Part 4) – In the documentary’s conclusion, we’ll follow production for the film’s final scenes.
• The Character of Music – Music in Joker: Folie à Deux
• Crafted with Class – Mark Friedberg on the detailed sets for Joker: Folie à Deux.
• Colours of Madness – Explore the cinematography of Joker: Folie à Deux with Oscar-nominated DP Lawrence Sher
• Live! With Joker – An animated opening for Joker: Folie à Deux inspired by the classic Warner Bros. cartoons.

Joker: Folie à Deux is out now on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD.