'Joker: Folie à Deux' is DC Comics' newest laughing stock

In "Joker: Folie à Deux," director Todd Phillips takes us back into the twisted world of Gotham. This sequel takes bold steps, adopting the structure of a jukebox musical and introducing new characters. This time around, though, Phillips stumbles, offering a narrative that feels all over the place.

Still, audiences have one constant: Arthur Fleck is portrayed once again by Joaquin Phoenix, who won an Oscar for his performance in the original film.

The story mostly unfolds in a prison, where Arthur is locked up for his horrific crimes, including the murders of five people and his own mother. Here, he meets Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga), an obsessive flirt. You'd expect their dynamic to feel like a passionate love story, but it falls flat.

Their relationship instead throws off audience members through the film's reliance on clichés like love at first sight — it doesn't give viewers much to root for. The chemistry between them never feels real, leaving audiences detached and uninterested in their connection.

Narratively, "Joker: Folie à Deux" struggles to find its rhythm. The plot wanders and often loses focus, making important events feel disconnected and lacking stakes. Moments that should be intense, like confrontations or revelations, end up feeling hollow. By the time the film wraps up, much of what it reveals feels repetitive and doesn't add much to what fans already know.

Arthur, in particular, remains a deeply troubled character, but the film fails to explore his motivations or personal growth effectively. Unlike in the first film, where he was the catalyst for chaos, here he feels more like a passive observer.

Key scenes, like an escape attempt or a chaotic courtroom moment, are driven by Harley or other characters instead of Arthur. This diminishes the emotional weight of his journey, leaving viewers without a clear sense of his transformation or purpose.

Despite its narrative issues, "Joker: Folie à Deux" shines in other aspects. The cinematography, from Lawrence Sher, is striking. The haunting score from Hildur Guðnadóttir enhances the film's unsettling vibe.

Unfortunately, this visual and auditory brilliance often gets lost in the storytelling flaws. Musical sequences that could have added depth instead feel like unnecessary distractions, slowing down the already tedious plot. While musical numbers can enrich a story, these moments come off as stylistic choices rather than essential parts of the narrative.

There are some standout scenes, like the stunning opening animation and the explosive climax in the courtroom, but they are brief highlights in an otherwise scattered story. Without strong narrative cohesion or emotional resonance, these moments lose their impact and fail to elevate the film.

The movie tries to explore Arthur's fractured psyche but leaves us with more questions than answers. This ultimately distances viewers from the character audiences once felt so connected to.

In the end, "Joker: Folie à Deux" feels like a missed opportunity. Instead of building on the provocative narrative of its predecessor, it delivers a sequel that drifts without a clear purpose. The film's conclusion isn't inherently flawed, but it feels like it could have easily been part of the first movie. This raises doubts about whether this continuation was really necessary.

Overall, "Joker: Folie à Deux" has impressive performances and technical achievements but falls short of delivering a cohesive or engaging story. Despite its visual splendor, it lacks the emotional and narrative depth that made the first film compelling. This sequel stands out as one of the more disappointing follow-ups in recent memory.