Critic
Lady Gaga’s Joker: Folie à Deux Is Almost as Miserable as Its Lead Character
The Joaquin Phoenix Joker sequel squanders its megawatt stars in favor of a punishingly boring movie-musical.
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as Lee Quinzel.
Photographer: Niko TaverniseI did not like 2019’s Joker, Todd Phillips’ film about the Batman villain that won Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar. I found it self important yet shockingly hollow in its attempts to say something about how society warps the lonely. And yet I’ll admit I was excited for its sequel Joker: Folie à Deux. It’s a musical co-starring Lady Gaga. How bad could it be, really?
Turns out: Very bad.