One “Joker: Folie à Deux” actor didn’t have a smile on his face while working on the DC Comics film.
Tim Dillon, who played a guard at Arkham Asylum in the controversial sequel, spoke bluntly about his hatred for the movie he appeared in on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
“I was in ‘Joker 2,’ which just came out,” the comedian said. “It’s the worst film that has ever been made.”
“It has no plot,” he also told host Joe Rogan.
Dillon apparently wasn’t alone in thinking this. He said his fellow actors who played Arkham guards were also baffled by director Todd Phillips‘ choices, and they told each other on set, “This is gonna bomb, man.”
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“It’s not even hate-watchable,” he added. “That’s how terrible it is.”
“Joker: Folie à Deux” once again starred Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, who spends nearly the entire film imprisoned as he is put on trial for his crimes. Lady Gaga played his love interest, Harley Quinn. Reviews were largely negative, and Phillips’ decision to make the movie a musical featuring mostly pre-existing songs was divisive. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave it a poor “D” grade, and the movie bombed at the box office with a worldwide gross of just over $200 million compared to more than $1 billion for its predecessor.
‘Joker 2’ review:Joaquin Phoenix returns in a sweeter, not better, movie musical
As for what went wrong, Dillon suggested Phillips’ “hubris” made him believe fans would accept the film no matter what, and he tried too hard to counteract claims that the original was meant to appeal to “the wrong kinds of people” with a message about “male rage.”
Rogan, who had not seen the film, theorized it may have been bad on purpose as a practical joke because Phillips didn’t want to make a “Joker” sequel. But Dillon wasn’t fully convinced. “If that’s true, it’s the most immoral thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said, pointing to the film’s large price tag. “It wasted everybody’s time. Just make a good movie.”
Despite widespread negative reactions, “Folie à Deux” does have some defenders, including Quentin Tarantino. On the “Bret Easton Ellis Podcast” last month, the “Pulp Fiction” director said he “really, really liked” the film and praised the way it set out to anger comic-book fans, Hollywood and Warner Bros. stockholders.
“Todd Phillips is the Joker,” Tarantino said. “The Joker directed the movie. The entire concept, even him spending the studio’s money, he’s spending it like the Joker would spend it.”
