Joker 2 reviews: 'Joker: Folie à Deux', the highly anticipated musical psychological thriller directed by Todd Phillips, premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, with an 11-minute standing ovation. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Following its world premiere at the festival, reviews have started pouring in with mixed responses.
Joker: Folie à Deux gets a standing ovation at Venice International Film Festival
Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, and Todd Phillips were showered with adoration by the crowd at the Sala Grande, as they received a staggering 11-minute standing ovation. As the ovation continued, Lady Gaga, visibly moved, blew kisses and expressed her gratitude to the sea of fans.
Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga starter gets mixed reviews
However, the reviews paint another picture altogether. Hollywood Reporter’s review of the film read, “For a movie running two-and-a-quarter hours, Folie à Deux feels narratively a little thin and at times dull. It kicks up associations with everything from golden age movie musicals to auteur experiments like One From the Heart, without nailing down a workable model to provide much shape or structure.”
The Guardian called it “most disappointing film of the year.” The review reads, “This Joker has just one act in him: the first act. The film somehow manages to be desperately serious and very shallow.”
Indie wire called the film, “Boring, flat, and such a criminal waste of Lady Gaga.” The review reads, “Folie à Deux does not give the people what they want. The problem is that Phillips doesn’t give the people anything else instead. His film is bold enough to deny expectation, but not remotely thoughtful enough to offer something more interesting in their place.”
Variety’s review reads, “The film may be ambitious and superficially outrageous, but at heart, it’s an overly cautious sequel. Phillips has made a movie in which Arthur really is just poor Arthur; he does nothing wrong and isn’t going to threaten anyone’s moral sensibilities.”
Deadline praised the film, calling it a “brilliant musical return to a world of madness.”
The review reads, “With song, dance, comedy, darkness, animation, drama, violence and more, this is a musical — if it even is a musical — like no other. That’s entertainment, too.”
About Joker
The first Joker film had earned widespread critical acclaim and shattered box office records. Joaquin Phoenix's unforgettable portrayal of the Joker earned him the Best Actor award. The film's success also cemented its place as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.
The highly anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, is set to hit theaters on October 4, with Joaquin Phoenix reprising his iconic role alongside Lady Gaga as the enigmatic Harley Quinn.