Joker 2 is a dull and dreary sequel – it feels like an ego project for Joaquin Phoenix

THERE were moments successful this sequel to Todd Phillips’ 2019 superb Joker erstwhile I was truthful frustratingly bored I wanted to outcry “ARE YOU JOKING?”

Mostly erstwhile Joaquin Phoenix, who is not a earthy singer, broke into yet different song.

A opus that was performed successful full. Sung astatine an agonisingly dilatory pace. With lone a adjacent up of his look to look at.

It was not the lone annoyance successful this woefully dull and dreary film, directed again by Phillips.

There is simply a spark of committedness astatine the opening, with an animated cartoon of the Joker — whose much quality sanction is Arthur Fleck — reminding america each he’s a wide murderer.

From there, we’re hurtled into a bleak prison wherever a painfully bladed Fleck (Phoenix) has intelligibly mislaid his consciousness of humour.

He’s ridiculed by chap prisoners, smokes incessantly and seems connected strangely bully presumption with the correctional serviceman Jackie (Brendan Gleeson).

He decides to propulsion a fewer strings to get Fleck into a euphony class, wherever hospitalised intelligence patients sing.

There, helium meets Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga) who declares herself a immense fan.

Soon — aft precise small speech — the brace person fallen crazily successful emotion and are performing a philharmonic fig together.

Meanwhile, Fleck’s lawyer (Catherine Keener) is trying to marque definite helium doesn’t get the decease penalty.

Her lawsuit is that helium has a property disorder, committing the crimes arsenic The Joker and not arsenic Fleck.

She keeps, boringly, hammering location this constituent and sets up a unusual TV interrogation with Steve Coogan doing a atrocious American accent.

Then it’s backmost and distant to court wherever agelong scenes are littered with Fleck and Lee crooning distant with songs including For Once In My Life and Gonna Build A Mountain.

Visually, these are often stripped backmost to their faces and with nary elaborate creation sequences oregon shots successful Gotham City to distract.

Gaga’s anticipated follow-up to her awesome turns successful A Star Is Born and House Of Gucci is specified a let-down.

But it’s nary responsibility of her own. Her quality is underwritten and has nary of the gum-chewing mania of Quinn successful different depictions.

Phoenix is simply a mighty good actor, but this Joker feels much similar an ego task for him and Phillips, alternatively than a movie for fans.

There’s thing comic astir that.