The central theme of "Joker: Folie à Deux" is that the character of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) has such a splintered mind that what appears to him as rational thinking is often an illusion. That is shown by director Todd Phillips who turned to a familiar Hollywood approach used primarily in movie musicals of having his main characters break into song when they can’t express themselves in a saner voice. Phillips gets credit for trying this tactic, but he loses loads of points for putting the songs into practice. Instead of the musical numbers being an insight into an insane mind, they are mostly annoying and would be the leading cause of the 138-minute-long movie seeming endless if there wasn’t such a chronology abyss created by an overabundance of courtroom scenes. The scant moments Phillips spends delving into the mind of a psychotic criminal, the thinking of a woman who could lust after such a person and the mob mentality that can surround the most unlikely person are dwarfed by the blend of pop and show tunes along with legal shenanigans that are absurd even by Gotham City standards. Had Phillips selected a single direction for the movie, it would have been better as this mangling of genres couldn’t get any worse. Fleck/Joker is a guest at the infamous Arkham Asylum waiting to see if doctors will certify him sane enough to stand trial for the five (actually six) murders he committed in the first movie released in 2019. It is inside the cold, drab walls that he meets Lee (Lady Gaga), a self-described arsonist with parental issues. It is later revealed Lee is short for Harley. It is love at first sight for Fleck. The pair bond and sing their way to a picture of a future full of happiness and love. When they aren’t dancing and singing, the pair make eyes at each other in the courtroom. “Joker: Folie à Deux” (that translates to madness for two) continues the trend of a story unfolding in Batman’s backyard of Gotham City with no caped crimefighter in sight. The TV series “Gotham” used that approach and there is no Batman in the new series “The Penguin” on the streaming service of Max. Batman isn’t necessary – especially if the comic book hero is played with great ennui as in the case of Robert Pattinson – but that means the villains must be engaging. Phoenix is not engaging as he looks so gaunt that he appears to be too weak to have pulled the trigger on a gun. Any attempts to give the character a place to grow gets thwarted by the ridiculous musical numbers. Lady Gaga manages to turn the very memorable Harley Quinn – as played by Margot Robbie in past DC films – into a dull mess. Most of it isn’t her fault as instead of the promise she would be as villainous as Joker fails to transpire. There is no question she can sing but that doesn’t make the failed attempt at this musical theater salute to the criminally insane any better. One small side note is that this film is filled with more smoking than a full season of “Mad Men.” There should be a Surgeon General sticker on the theater door saying “Joker: Folie à Deux” may create health problems usually associated with second-hand smoking. This film is a swing and a major miss. “Joker: Folie à Deux” is bad but at least Phillips tried something new. The comic book inspired movie genre has become repetitive or in the case of garbage like “Black Adam” and “Madame Web,” failures. The wrong turn Phillips made is that Joker is best when he is running crazed through the streets. Having him confined to a jail or courtroom stifles the evil energy out of the character. And, the singing doesn’t help. In the end, new – as proven by this muddled mess – doesn’t mean good. Moviegoers would be better off taking the money they were going to spend on tickets to the movie and subscribe to Max as Colin Farrell’s Penguin is complicated and compelling. And, there are no musical numbers. Movie review Joker: Folie à Deux Grade: D+ Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Betts Director: Todd Phillips Rated: R for language, nudity, sexual situations, violence Running time: 138 minutes.