The people of Gotham City can never be safe when they live where villains such as Bane and Mister Freeze lurk around the corner. But what happens when one of the villains feels uncomfortable with the environment they are forced to live in?
Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker is ready to answer that question by bringing audiences along when Joker the Harlequin (the protagonist portrayed by the filmmaker herself) moves to Gotham City while chasing a dream. But even if Batman (Phil Braun) will do everything he can to save the city, the unexpected narrative goes to very emotional places.
The story of The People’s Joker centers around Joker and how she doesn’t feel comfortable in her own body when she’s young. Even though the universe wants her to live a life that’s not her own, to find a better life for herself, she moves to Gotham City in an attempt to become a host for UCB Live. After meeting Oswald Cobblepot (Nathan Faustyn), the duo realizes that if the show rejects their talent, it’s time for them to develop their type of comedy, going against their reality’s rules.
This quest is very personal for Vera Drew, who wrote this engaging story about a trans protagonist while being a trans person herself. Her own emotions placed against the backdrop of a Batman parody come together to form a unique narrative that creatively discusses a very emotional topic with a distinct sense of humour and wonder. Just like Drew establishes herself as an undeniable force with the movie, it is clear that no one will stop Joker the Harlequin from becoming the icon she was meant to be.
Taking into account how the characters from DC Comics are the protagonists of The People’s Joker, it was clear from the very start that the company behind titles such as The Flash and Blue Beetle would inevitably come after Drew and her film. However, the fact that the movie has managed to survive is a test of how it isn’t simply a parody of Batman’s world or an unauthorized attempt to use intellectual property. At its core, the People’s Joker is a personal interpretation of what it means to live by one’s desires. And that’s what makes it stand out in a crowded pop culture conversation.
Drew’s performance as her unpredictable protagonist is engaging, not letting audiences know what the Joker’s next step will be until the character is already performing her next move. In an age when other superhero productions attempt to lightly touch a conversation of true sexual diversity and embracing queer identities, The People’s Joker directly addresses the subject without being afraid of a potential response from the audience. The leading DC brand could use the love and care Drew pours into her journey as Gotham’s most volatile clown-based antagonist.
When it comes to the supporting cast of The People’s Joker, Gotham City’s rogues gallery has plenty to offer. Trevor Drinkwater plays a version of The Riddler, who is also an aspiring comedian, departing from Matt Reeves’ darker take on the character established in The Batman. Another standout from the secondary antagonists in Drew’s film is Ra’s al Ghul (David Liebe Hart), who took a break from running the League of Assassins to work in Gotham City’s only comedy television program. Alongside Scarecrow (Christian Calloway), these interpretations of the characters gave Drew a chance to tell her story while creatively using what has been established in decades of Batman lore.
With engaging performances from the main cast and a creative way of mixing the DC Comics characters with her narrative, Vera Drew triumphs with The People’s Joker. This unconventional coming-of-age story can be enjoyed by both long-time fans of the franchise based on and by people looking to have a good time with an engaging comedy. Time will tell how Drew will evolve as a filmmaker, but this feature proves she’s up for any challenge. The streets of Gotham City might not be safe, but they are a ton of fun.
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