October, known as the spooky season, brings a chill with the eerie excitement of Halloween. Just in time for this part of the year, the new DC movie, Joker: Folie à Deux, has hit theaters on October 4. Succeeding the original movie Joker from 2019 and starring Lady Gaga as Lee Quinzel, more commonly known as Harley Quinn, it was expected to draw a large audience. However, the film was not quite the hit it was anticipated to be.
Because the movie is a musical, it has brought about many mixed opinions from viewers, especially devoted fans of the DC franchise. The Joker, a singing and dancing antihero who, previously, was supposed to be miserable, did not do the movie any justice. Also, many are hesitant to bring younger viewers into the theater as it is rated R, containing violence, strong language, and some nudity. With a rating of 1.7/5 stars and 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, Joker: Folie à Deux is off to a rough start (Rotten Tomatoes).
Folie à deux, a French term meaning “madness of two,” references a shared delusional disorder (SDD) in which symptoms of deluded beliefs transfer from one person to another (National Institute of Health). This is the premise on which Joker and Harley Quinn’s relationship is built, a shared insanity that drives them through their time at Arkham State Hospital (IMDb). In theory, it sounds like an interesting plot, but according to many, it was not executed properly.
Senior Arielle Gomberg remarks that “Some of the plot was not as well thought-out as the first Joker movie,” however, she highlights that “both Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga did a great job representing their characters.” She further states, “It was nice to see the dynamic of the Joker and Harley Quinn in live action again.” Falling short of expectations, the movie leaves audiences with a bleak and unsatisfying experience that hurts the name of DC.
Other scriptwriters are even criticizing the movie. Paul Schrader, a Hollywood writer-director, claimed he “saw about 10 or 15 minutes of it. I left, bought something, came back, saw another 10 minutes. That was enough” (TH.com). However, as more people file in to see the movie, there might be some hope.
Ms. Casey, an English teacher, hasn’t seen the new movie yet, but “can’t wait to see it once it’s streaming!” She shares that “watching Joaquin Phoenix play Arthur Fleck in Joker (2019) was mesmerizing. He gave a haunting, transformative performance that was impossible to look away from. With Lady Gaga’s propensity for theatrics thrown into the mix, I think there’s potential for a truly mad-masterpiece!” After all, DC holds a cherished place in the hearts of audiences worldwide, and regardless of opinions on the film, it certainly won’t be forgotten.
