CinemaJoker: Delirium for Two disappoints with apathetic musical numbers and empty plotSequel to the 2019 film hits theaters starting this Wednesday (2) and features Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in the main roles today at 5:00 p.m.

Who looked for reasons to criticize Jokerfrom 2019, you won’t need to try very hard to do the same with Joker: Delirium for Twoinevitable and disappointing sequel, which hits Brazilian cinemas starting this Wednesday, October 2nd.

In history, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix, Napoleon) is institutionalized in Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, the villain not only comes across true love, in the form of Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born), how he finds the music that has always been inside him.

Despite being awaited by tens of thousands of fans, Joker: Delirium for Twowhich counts on the return of Todd Phillips to the director’s chair, seems to exist only as a result of the box office success of the previous film, responsible for grossing more than US$ 1 billion worldwide and also guaranteeing the Oscar for Best Actor for Phoenix for his portrayal of the title character.

Among the many criticisms that the first film received — from being accused of promoting violence in a fascist way to taking itself too seriously for a blockbuster —, it is highlighted that Todd Phillips supposedly “urbed” references from the cinema of Martin Scorseseespecially The King of Comedyfrom 1982, to create an authorial work that is not as original as it thinks or proposes to be.

In this slot sequel, Phillips seeks to respond to critics of the first feature. With less romanticization of the violence practiced by Jokerthe director and screenwriter follows a more psychological path for the character and even touches on some interesting themes such as the role of society in the face of a mentally ill criminal. However, like everything presented in the script, it lacks depth.

Furthermore, as expected, considering the four times larger budget of Joker: Delirium for Two, Phillips stylizes the new story based on this musical genre with the intention of doing the same thing he did in 2019: creating something that has his signature. However, the proposal works well as an idea, but in execution it is flawed, as the filmmaker has no idea how to work with the genre.

The musical numbers, which appear as if they were hallucinations, delusions or dreams of Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), are very disconnected from the main narrative line, which is already weak, practically non-existent, and does not sustain the more than two hours of film. This is where the musical part comes in, which are repetitive, lacking in emotion and break the confluence of the plot.

That way, Joker: Delirium for Two remains stagnant in the face of the incapacity of a plot that fails to develop the psychological study of the main character, something that it incessantly seeks in the courtroom scenes, and that also fails to evolve when it relies on musical romance without chemistry between Harley Quinn and the Joker.

Lady Gaga she even tries to build a character worthy of trying to stand out in the middle of everything, but she is thrown into the middle of all this apathy and has no chance to shine, much to the sadness of her fans. In the end, it becomes clear that this is just another product from an industry that only aims for profit.

What has been the best film of 2024 so far? Vote for your favorite!

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• “The Snow Society”
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• “Poor Creatures”
• “Dune: Part 2”
• “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2”
• “Inside Out 2”
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• “MaXXXine”
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