For Whom is 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Really Made For? 

Due to its critical and financial setbacks, ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ has left many original film critics and fans feeling disenfranchised or alienated. This begs the question: for whom is this sequel meant? As someone who enjoyed the first movie and thought Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix) was a tragic character who deserved sympathy, people felt the sequel lacked depth. Despite director Todd Phillips's desire for a unique artistic vision, the movie seems to regress rather than advance the topics presented in the 2019 original, choosing instead to follow a formulaic plot.

Phillips takes a strong stance against supporters who looked up to Fleck as a hero in this follow-up. There is less interest in the characters of Arthur and Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) because of their flat portrayals, which make them both culpable. Although people can see Phillips' desire to elaborate on his initial point, Fleck's shallow portrayal feels misplaced. The audience's capacity to recognize that Fleck's behaviour is not to be imitated is understated.

Image Courtesy: People

Although it generated some excitement, the choice to adapt ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ into a musical and courtroom drama ultimately failed. The courtroom sequences did not provide fresh perspectives, and the musical components did not improve the story. For those who didn't appreciate the first movie or who were sympathetic yet critical of Fleck, the sequel just restates the past without making any meaningful philosophical advancements.

At its core, this movie doesn't feel like a legitimate ‘Joker’ sequel. Phillips seems to completely ignore the humorous qualities of chaos that Fleck's character brought to the original. He runs the risk of offending fans of the character who were interested in this in-depth analysis of one of Batman's most infamous villains by implying that Fleck might not even be the real Joker in this realm.

Image Courtesy: People

In the end, the intended audience for ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is still unknown. Filmmakers should take audience participation into account even though artistic freedom is crucial. It's possible that Phillips lost the chance to let his art develop and gain traction beyond his original intent.

–Farheen Ali