“Joker: Folie à Deux” has unfortunately gone down the same path as every other blockbuster sequel this decade. It’s bad. The first “Joker” film cemented itself as a modern classic, acclaimed for standing out amongst comic book movies for its gritty, cynical tone and emphasis on the titular character’s mental turmoil. Unfortunately, the newest, and surely last, installment of the franchise reduced this grittiness to shallow fantasy; the sequel is a musical. Upon its announcement, director Todd Phillips’ decision to make the film a musical split the fanbase.

Michael Fabis ‘25 stated, “I personally didn’t like the musical aspect. It seemed out of place.”

The disjunctive musical aspect disappointed fans due to an overall lack of creativity during musical sequences and ridiculous amounts of tonal whiplash. Indeed, many critics detested the difference in tone between the two films.

Especially shocking was the mediocrity of the plot, especially considering how the film had more than enough talented actors and writers to account for the subpar musical aspects. The main premise of the film is that it is told through a series of courtroom flashbacks to decide the fate of Arthur Fleck, the Joker. Joaquin Phoenix flawlessly reprised his role as the Joker, and the climactic courtroom scene could have been a standalone film for how well it displayed his acting range. Harry Lawtey, as upstart attorney Harvey Dent, is the perfect heroic antagonist for Joker, but once Harley Quinn and the Arkham Asylum arc of the film come along, the film takes a downward spiral.

The setting of Arkham Asylum is so rich in opportunity for a dark, dramatic psychological thriller to take place. Yet all of the scenes in the asylum were rushed to get the main plot surrounding the Joker’s trial going, which is evident in how underdeveloped the setting and characters are. Especially disappointing is how minimal Brendan Gleeson’s role in the movie was, despite his talents as an actor, as he was relegated to the status of a lowly, abusive guard with little screentime. However, by a longshot, the most glaring mistake of the film is the Joker’s turbulent love interest and fellow Arkham inmate, Harley Quinn. Lady Gaga is simply not a good fit for the role, and director Todd Phillips completely redid Harley’s comic origin, making the viewer question why the writers bothered including her in the film in the first place.

With all that being said, the film was unremarkable yet watchable until its atrocious ending. Without spoiling it for any potential viewers, regardless of how misguided viewing that may be, the ending not only undid whatever good was shown in the sequel but singlehandedly ruined the legacy of the first film. Roman Medina ‘25 recalls, “The ending was thrown in there, last minute.”

Overall, fans of the first film should steer clear of “Joker: Folie à Deux.” If enthusiasts want a similar feel to the first movie in regards to grittiness and seeing an origin story for an iconic Batman villain, consider watching Max’s new series “The Penguin.”