Everyone knows that the worst thing you can do to a joke is explain it. And yet, that’s exactly what Joker Folie a Deux does. Over its two-hour-plus runtime, Todd Phillips’ anti-superhero sequel meticulously recounts and relitigates the events of Joker as he puts Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) on trial, literally, for the murders he committed in the original. Watching characters from a movie that came out five years ago describe the events of that movie while sitting in a government building turns out to be about as much fun as it sounds.
Joker Folie a Deux (or Joker 2, as we’ll all likely wind up calling it) does have redeeming qualities. Phoenix is still a great actor, and his portrayal of Arthur is as haunting and complicated as ever. Lady Gaga is a clever addition as Phillips’ take on Harley Quinn. Some of those musical numbers are kind of great. And an explosive final act gives the movie an unexpected shot in the arm.
