The People's Joker

I described this to friends as "like a Tim & Eric sketch with a heart" but that doesn't leave a very good taste in my mouth. But I also feel like I could argue with myself how to define this movie practically forever, because it is so much, all the time.

It's often strange, chaotic, a little uncomfortable, but also really funny and ultimately heartfelt. The kind of movie that couldn't have been made (or nobody would be ready for in this format) 10 years ago.

I've seen several reviews from friends-of-friends and I still don't feel like I knew what I was getting into. But, man, what a heck of a thing.

Wow - what can one say about this wild, woolly, wigged-out spoof of superhero movies in which the protagonist is an edgy, crusading transgender harlequin comedian fighting the power structure of a corrupt, narrow-minded society? That description alone is pretty wacky in itself, but, as the finished product shows, its depiction on screen is even more bizarre and outrageous. Writer-actor-director Vera Drew's debut feature is simultaneously an exercise in the outlandish that's part high camp, part in-your-face irreverence, part alternative sexuality manifesto and part love letter to the Batman mythology turned on its ear. This story of a small-town boy's transgender awakening as a springboard to finding a new life in the wilds of Gotham City's underground comedy scene tells an off-the-wall, often-frenetically paced, sometimes-sentimental tale that defies conventional classification. Its inventive mix of live action, motion capture photography and animation serves up a unique viewing experience unlike anything most audiences have ever seen, including among most seasoned cinephiles. It also delivers some positively scathing one-liners and wicked sight gags that will leave many thinking "I can't believe they just did that!" Collectively, it makes for the kind of picture that will likely earn this production cult movie status and a guaranteed spot on midnight show movie lineups. Despite its many inspired cinematic innovations, however, the narrative occasionally tends toward overzealous self-indulgence and cryptic ideologies that appear to be employed simply to carry the story forward, making for a production that seems to be trying too hard just to see how much of a stunned reaction it can get from the audience. It has also come under some scrutiny for pushing the limits of fair use issues and acceptable propriety boundaries, elements that raised the eyebrows of some critics and of those who created the source materials from which this work draws (but that have also subsequently added to the picture's undeniable allure). Nevertheless, if you're looking for something that's part DC Comics, part John Waters, part "Liquid Sky" (1982), part "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975), and part exploration of the unknown and untried, this one might be right up your alley. But, if you're put off by such an eclectic blend of satire, social commentary, visual imagery and heretical rumination, don't say you weren't warned.

I was intrigued by the inclusion of Bob Odenkirk, Tim Heidecker, and Scott Aukerman in this movie, but was let down so bad. Vera Drew did work on On Cinema at the Cinema and Comedy Bang Bang, so I thought this would be interesting. I feel misled by a lot of the promotions for this movie. What put me off was the lack of sets, the cheesy acting, and the non-funny storyline. It's mostly a monologue about the hardships of being trans. I understand the lifestyle of a transgender person is hard, but this was severely wrongly marketed as a film that would appeal to audiences who wanted to see comedy and comic book action. It had neither. The comedians were horrible, to put it lightly, and the unsatisfactory comic book action was mostly done with bad animation and/or action figure stop motion. It was nauseatingly bad. I don't even think it qualifies as comic book knowledge with the references; it was more like pop culture knowledge. While I don't think comic books are that cool to begin with (I like the ones from the 40s and 50s the most), this movie made them seem lamer. Bob Odenkirk, Tim Heidecker, and Scott Aukerman are voice-only in tiny, miniscule parts. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone except trans people who might love comic book movies. The editing was alright, and the energy of some of the lead actors was alright, but everything else was terrible.

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the premiere of The People's Joker at New York's famous IFC Theatre. Delightfully, lead actress/director/writer Vera Drew also attended to answer some fan questions. Parodying Todd Phillip's 2019 blockbuster Joker, The People's Joker reimagines the tears of DC's clown from a transsexual coming-of-age point of view. Initially imagined as a re-edit of Phillip's Joker, Vera Drew journeyed down a rabbit hole that film enthusiasts only dream of. Produced through the pandemic, The People's Joker persevered through many different iterations and exactly 69 different cuts before Drew settled on her perfect vision. After a possible rights issue, the movie was pulled from its intended premiere at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival and is now being released through the distribution studio Altered Innocence. Combining the DC Comic parodies with psychedelically abstract imagery, The People's Joker sets out to envelope Vera Drew's life story, while relating to the Joker's twisted tale.

Growing up in quiet Smallville, a young child begins struggling with the discovery of their identity, against the basic ideals of their small-town parents. Journeying out to Gotham, Joker The Harlequin (Vera Drew) aspires to an outlawed life of comedy. Opening her own unground nightclub alongside the Penguin (Nathan Faustyn), she quickly makes a name for herself in the authoritarian-ruled city. Battling the Batman, her boyfriend, and her parents' disapproval, Joker The Harlequin must accept her true self to overcome the obstacles facing herself and her city.

Crafting a heartfelt true story out of the mad world of the Joker, Vera Drew carefully connects the dots between the Clown Prince of Crime and her personal experiences. Having previously worked with comedic genius duo Tim Heidecker (featured in this film) & Eric Wareheim, Drew is no stranger to the chaotic world of modern humor. Though the comedy doesn't always land, the underlying emotional message is prevalent throughout. Drew's trans-coming-of-age story, while unique, remains relatable in her struggle for identity and self-acceptance, an appeal of Joker (2019) as well. The two stories seamlessly combine and create an eccentric journey that comes together in an unconventional, but must-see manner.

Akin to an early day's YouTube video, the randomness of the wacky visuals forms a story that feels true to the Joker. Constantly switching from live-action to animation, and even mixing both, the film consistently grabs the audience's attention and makes it nearly impossible to be bored. Layered with DC Comic references and settings, the film is a constant easter egg hunt for fans. Not held back by the low budget, Drew incorporates puppetry, musical numbers, meta-humor, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek green screen to piece together a wildly entertaining experience. Although it isn't perfect, the movie's flaws accentuate the imperfect world of Joker the Harlequin.

As a lifelong fan of DC Comics and a self-proclaimed aficionado on the subject, The People's Joker was clearly written by people with the same passion for comics. Writers Vera Drew and Bri LeRose repetitively impressed me with their deep-cut references to DC heroes, villains, and fan theories (albeit all in parody). While they aren't represented in their traditional fashion, each iconic character is utilized in a way that feels honest to their source and dynamically plays with the abstract world that inspired this.

At its heart, The People's Joker conveys an emotional coming-of-age story that echoes relatability for any walk of life. Though the story had familiar elements, Vera Drew truly connects to her audience and shines a beacon on the, often unseen, trans experience. Completely non-conventual, outlandishly unique, and conceptually absurd, The People's Joker is a must-see for fans of film, DC Comics, and generally unique stories. I hope that somewhere in the DC Comics Multiverse, Joker the Harlequin is there to put a smile on all our faces.

Now this is a movie that I heard buzz about before it started. I saw the title and had no idea that this was a parody of DC properties. There was a disclaimer in the beginning of this wild ride. The last bit was that this seems like one that Nightmares Film Festival was trying to get for bit and finally did. I got to see this for the Midwest premiere.

We are following Joker the Harlequin (Vera Drew). She goes about telling her story about how she was born as a boy, thought she might be in the wrong body and how her mother, Lynn Downey, took her to see Dr. Jonanthan Crane (Christian Calloway). She leads her into this dystopian world to Gotham where comedy is outlawed. Together with The Penguin (Nathan Faustyn) they start an anti-comedy troupe with Poison Ivy (voiced by Ruin Carroll), The Riddler (Trevor Drinkwater) and Mr. J (Kane Distler). This is an origin as well as a coming-of-age story as to how Joker the Harlequin changes the world.

This is a wild movie. It is a parody while also having a great message here. The depth of knowledge that co-writer/director Drew has along with Bri LeRose into the DC universe is great. There are so many references that I noticed and I'd bet there are even more that I missed. Not only that though, to take these things and mold them into a satire of the world we live in is great. Showcasing how Joaquin Phoenix's Joker isn't someone we should idolize or the same for Jared Leto's take from Suicide Squad. I'm just scratching the surface with what this is doing.

Now I will warn you if you haven't picked up this is a heavy LGTBQ+ message. I didn't have an issue with it as it made me laugh and think as well. It is looking at how Joker as a child knew they were someone trapped in the wrong body biologically. We see the repercussions of what the mother did. We even see a hilarious take on Lorne Michaels (voiced by Maria Bamford), trying to tame what is happening for money and success. There are even jabs here at Saturday Night Live that I found funny.

I should also bring up filmmaking. This is done on a low budget. There is use of green screen. I can be forgiving since we are bringing a comic book world to life and a backdrop of a dystopian world. What I love is the transitions though from the world we are in to cartoon. Having things edited in like AI and what not was expertly done. This isn't a movie that was ever going to pull in a true budget, especially for what I'm going to say next. Before that though, we have a good cast here. Drew leads the way as our main character. I like seeing characters like Mr. Freeze (voiced by Scott Aukerman), Batman (voiced by Phil Braun), Calloway, Carroll, Distler, Drinkwater, Faustyn and David Liebe Hart as Ra's al Ghul. Downey and the rest of the cast also rounded this out for what was needed.

This won't be for everyone, but if you're open minded and enjoy outrageous comedies. Give this a watch. It has a great message and does in a way that is outside of the box. It is going to ruffle feathers for sure.

My Rating: 6 out of 10.