Joker : Folie à Deux , the sequel to the 2019 Joaquin Phoenix film, has scored an unwanted Rotten Tomatoes score as more critics release their reviews of the film. Initial responses to the premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September were mixed, with some calling it “ingenious” or “beguiling” and others finding it “dull” and “laborious”. Among the critics who praised the film was The Independent ’s Geoffrey Macnab, who delivered a four-star verdict and wrote: “The darkness at the core of the film is underlined by its very brutal ending, which rejects comic book conventions in favour of psychological depth.
“Phoenix’s performance remains powerful and stirring, too. The genius of it is that we can’t help but care for Arthur despite his neediness and derangement.” The film, which is a musical, also stars Lady Gaga as the Joker’s sidekick and love interest, Harley Quinn, had a modest early score on Rotten Tomatoes on 61 per cent, as reported by Forbes , placing it as having the same score as the widely derided Black Adam .
That has now dropped down to just 39 per cent as the majority of critics lay the boot into the story, songs and the much talked-about ending. The consensus review on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing is: “Joaquin Phoenix’s eponymous Joker takes the stand in a sequel that dances around while the story remains still, although Lady Gaga’s wildcard energy gives Folie á Deux some verve.” New York Times critic Manoh.
