Does Joker hold up?

Let’s find out:

So we start off by meeting clown/start-up comedian Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix). Arthur resides with Penny (Frances Conroy)/his mom and the two have a Crimson Peak dynamic. Arthur is prone to laughing fits. Randall (Glenn Fleshler) gives Arthur a gun so that he can protect himself. Arthur is interested in mom Sophie Dumond (Zazie Beetz).

Arthur’s gun secret comes out a children’s hospital and Randall lets Arthur take the fall for it. Intoxicated employees from Wayne Investments give Arthur a hard time. In response, Arthur murders the Wayne employees. Budget cuts mean that Arthur is going off his meds.

Arthur’s stand-up does not go well. Arthur then finds out that he may be Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen)’s son. Arthur then gets an interaction with Bruce Wayne (Dante Pereira-Olson); but, Alfred Pennyworth (Douglas Hodge) protects his charge.

Penny winds up in the hospital. Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) pokes fun at Arthur.

Arthur confronts Thomas Wayne, Thomas denies that he is Arthur’s father and things get all Maury for a second. Arthur visits Arkham State Hospital and he finds out that Penny adopted him. Penny had an abusive boyfriend, the boyfriend abused Arthur, the boyfriend wound up deceased behind bars and Penny wound up at Arkham. We then find out that the Sophie-Arthur relationship was all in Arthur’s head as Sophie and Arthur have a creepy visit and we don’t know how the visit ends. Arthur then commits matricide.

Murray is going to have Arthur on his show. Arthur plans to off himself during the show, and…

When… when did this become The Banana Splits Movie?

Anyway, Arthur gets revenge on Randall; but, he spares Gary (Leigh Gill) because of the Carrie White rule. Pro-Arthur protestors go after detectives that are after Arthur.

We then get the famous Joker introduction scene that was in all of the trailers. Arthur kisses a guest, he shows his dark sense of humor, and…

Sounds like a typical celebrity appearance on a late-night show.

…he confesses to offing the Wayne employees and he reveals his hatred for Murray. Arthur then offs Murray. Arthur is arrested, riots erupt and the rioters free Arthur. A rioter offs Thomas and Martha Wayne.

We then go to Arkham and Arthur’s therapist does not understand Arthur’s sense of humor. We end with Arthur creating a bloody mess on the floor.

Joker is a dark, good and unique comic book movie.

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