Joker: Folie a Deux disappointed despite high expectations earning a D grade on CinemaScore

"Joker: Folie a Deux" disappointed despite high expectations, earning a D grade on CinemaScore and the sequel facing criticism.

Joker: Folie a Deux - A Disappointing Review Journey
Warner Bros. Pictures

When I decided to watch Joker: Folie a Deux, I had a lot of expectations. Joker 2019 was a hit, but what was going to happen this time? This question was going around in my mind. The trailer of the film had me hooked, but did it really manage to deliver a great experience?

The CinemaScore rating made me skeptical. I thought the audience response would be a little better. But when I heard that it got a D grade, I was a bit shocked. This was completely opposite to the expectation. The film has been given such grades, which hardly anyone would have imagined. It was like a nightmare where Joker could not show his magic.

The situation was not much better on Rotten Tomatoes either. A score of 33% does not spell good days for any film. I also heard that many people were linking this film to other box office bombs. Movies like Borderlands and Megalopolis came to mind, which failed to give anything special to the audience. It seems that Joker had the same fate.

The initial response of the audience matters a lot for any movie. When you remember the first version of Joker, its impact was completely different. That movie was a record-breaker at the box office, and its story made a place in the hearts of the people. But this time it did not happen. Did we expect to see something new? Maybe we did.

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While talking about this movie, one thing that came to my mind was its characters. Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is always amazing, but was he able to create the same magic this time? Many viewers said that the story was weak. Perhaps there were some unsaid things that could have been presented in a better way.

A major part of the success of a movie lies in its writing. The writing of Joker: Folie a Deux, possibly, could not give the audience the impact they were expecting. I remember some people expressing their disappointment after the screening. “We expected more,” was the refrain that was being heard over and over again.

Joker: Folie à Deux gets a lukewarm response from critics: 60% Rotten Tomatoes score
Joker: Folie à Deux gets a lukewarm response from critics: 60% Rotten Tomatoes score
Joaquin Phoenix has suddenly pulled out of Todd Haynes’ film, putting the success of ‘Joker 2’ in doubt, which could affect the film’s chances in the Oscar race
Joker: Folie à Deux gets a lukewarm response from critics: 60% Rotten Tomatoes score
joker-2-
Joaquin Phoenix has suddenly pulled out of Todd Haynes’ film, putting the success of ‘Joker 2’ in doubt, which could affect the film’s chances in the Oscar race
Joker
Joker: Folie à Deux gets a lukewarm response from critics: 60% Rotten Tomatoes score
Joker: Folie à Deux gets a lukewarm response from critics: 60% Rotten Tomatoes score
Joaquin Phoenix has suddenly pulled out of Todd Haynes’ film, putting the success of ‘Joker 2’ in doubt, which could affect the film’s chances in the Oscar race
Joker: Folie à Deux gets a lukewarm response from critics: 60% Rotten Tomatoes score
joker-2-
Joaquin Phoenix has suddenly pulled out of Todd Haynes’ film, putting the success of ‘Joker 2’ in doubt, which could affect the film’s chances in the Oscar race
Joker

The story was lacking somewhere. The depth that the first Joker had was lost this time around. I think the director tried to bring in something new, but perhaps he couldn’t succeed. Every story should have a central element, and that was perhaps weakened in this film.

Still, I wondered if the expectations of the audience were too high? The name Joker has become a brand in itself. When you tell the story of a character that is so complex and deep, expectations tend to rise. Perhaps that was a big risk for this film.

Many viewers also criticized the music of the film. The importance of music is huge in any film. If the music is not up to the mark, the experience of the film also suffers. The music of Joker: Folie a Deux was perhaps not as effective. It appears that this time the magic was not there as it was before.

The box office situation was also a cause of concern. It is very important for a film to cover its costs. But what if the audience does not come to watch the film? It is like a maze. If the reviews of the film are bad, the audience refrains from watching it, and this affects the film’s revenue.

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When I talked to my friends about this film, their views were also quite mixed. Some said that they liked it, while others called it boring. It was an interesting situation, where there was no clear consensus.

The dialogues of the film also did not appeal to some viewers. The dialogues lacked depth and communicability. Perhaps the director tried to bring some originality, but it seems that he did not go in the right direction.

Overall, Joker: Folie a Deux disappointed the audience. There were many reasons behind this, including the story, music and dialogues. My experience with this film was also not that great. Hopefully in the future we will return to the wonderful world of Joker again, where we will experience the magic that we all are looking for.

One thing was clear after watching the film – returning to the world of Joker is never easy. Hopes always remain alive, but sometimes, reality breaks them. Maybe next time we will get to see another new form of Joker.