‘Joker 2’ Receives Mixed Reactions Following Premiere At Venice

The sequel to Joker (2019), Joker: Folie à Deux, premiered at the Venice Film Festival on 4 September, and people have already had things to say about it. Joker 2 stars Joaquin Phoenix again as Arthur Fleck but also Lady Gaga as Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn.

Mixed Reactions From Publications and Critics

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian pointed to the spark between the two characters, saying, “There’s a real spark when Joker and Harley meet-uncute in the joint.”

But he also found the film ‘claustrophobic’ and ‘repetitively becalmed.’ This is because of the long stretches where Phoenix and Gaga are kept apart, adding that Phoenix’s performance remains “forceful” yet “single-note.”

William Bibbiani, writing for The Wrap, praised Phoenix’s performance, saying he ‘brings new insights to Arthur Fleck that Arthur himself didn’t seem to understand until now.” He also praised how Gaga plays her version of Harley Quinn as her own kind of Harley Quinn, entirely different from everyone else who’s ever done the role before her.

From The Irish Times, Tara Brady awarded it three out of five and called Phoenix ‘a sight to behold,’ but lamenting that Gaga’s role was underwritten, despite her giving “everything” to the performance. The film, she wrote, carries interesting ideas about love, mental illness, obsession, and fandom but felt the movie “could have been better.”

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote about the difference between the original and its sequel, saying that ‘because Folie à Deux will be embraced or dismissed for largely the same reasons’ as the first film. He felt the film “neutralizes” the Joker’s chaotic presence by limiting his actions to within the confines of Arkham Asylum, reducing him to a character shaped by “childhood trauma and mental illness.”

At the same time, IndieWire’s David Ehrlich slammed it as a “deliberately boring sequel” that struggles to entertain. While Ehrlich admired parts of the film, he was highly critical of how it failed to make use of Gaga as she deserved. He was particularly critical of how so many of Gaga’s musical performances were cut short.

Mixed Reactions From Fans

Reviews were also mixed, but apparently, some fans and some critics have loved it, especially the performances.

One fan declared on X (formerly Twitter), “Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix nailed it. Todd Phillips once again proves that he is the best of the best. #JokerFolieADeux deserves everything! Movie of the year!” Another review emphasized the risky decision to make the sequel a musical, stating that it “actually, incredibly works,” thanks to Phoenix and Gaga’s performances and the “perfect and ironic” choice of songs.

Not everyone was happy, though. On Letterboxd, D-Mo described the film’s musical element as exhausting, and wrote that Phoenix’s performance was neutered, dubbing the film a ‘huge disappointment’. Another critic on Film Dreams described the movie as ‘emotionless’ and wrote that [t]his sequel was a response to all the criticism the original movie received.

Oscar Buzz, Future Prospects, And Premiere Date

Folie à Deux has a lot of the same Oscar buzz that its predecessor had: it was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, and Phoenix won Best Actor. While some are confident that Folie à Deux will perform well at the upcoming Oscars, others remain skeptical.

Back on the red carpet, the pop singer Lady Gaga, who plays Harley Quinn, the music therapist whom Arthur Fleck falls in love with, expressed how deeply moved she was by the original film.

Director Todd Phillips says there was more pressure on him this time. “There’s a lot more expectations on a second film,” he said. reflecting on the success of the first Joker film, which grossed over $1 billion at the box office. He mentioned that convincing Phoenix to return for the sequel required making the script “as daring” as the first one.

Joker: Folie à Deux also stars Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, and Harry Lawtey. The film will be released theatrically worldwide on 2 October, and domestically on 4 October.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Joker 2 right now. Come back here often for all Joker 2 spoilers, news, and updates.