Beautifully mesmerizing in moments, frustratingly flat in others, Joker: Folie a Deux takes bold risks, but they sadly don't all pay off. I do applaud the fact that this sequel forges its own path and doesn’t fall into the trappings of just replicating the first film. A big part of the differentiation, of course, are the many musical numbers. And while I see the appeal of letting Joker and Harley go off on these dreamy, technicolor singing breaks, it ultimately served no real purpose. Don’t get me wrong, they looked and sounded great, but they were all too underpowered (forgettable even). And, should you remove them completely, the story very much still works – perhaps becoming a less tedious watch. As for said story, it’s nothing to get overly excited about. It all plays out as a dreary courtroom procedural with a real lack of drama. To be fair, there are moments of intrigue, but the sludge-like pacing takes a lot of the steam away. And unlike the first film, the Batman mythology is completely under-utilized. Sure, there’s familiar names and a visual nod or two, but to say it avoids any semblance of “fan service” would be an understatement. Luckily, Joaquin Phoenix is once again completely dialed in as our titular tormented clown. It's another transformative performance full of fascinating nuances and quirks. And while Lady Gaga earns one more gold star in the world of acting, it becomes all too clear that she was underused here. Often relegated to just giving reactions in the background, Gaga (and the character Harley Quinn for that matter) surely deserved better. What isn’t a let-down though, is the film’s wondrous visual splendor. Like the original, Folie a Deux features plenty of “chef’s kiss” images. The artistry is super strong here, with every frame being a legitimate moving piece of art. As for the movie’s ending, it’s a conclusion guaranteed to divide audiences. No spoilers of course, but let’s just say it’s no laughing matter as it relates to the future of ‘ol Arthur Fleck. But, then again, like its predecessor, there is plenty of room for deep discussions as to what TRULY happened. Unfortunately, not everyone is bound to care enough to put more thought into things…