The People's Joker

An inspired mess of a movie, Vera Drew’s The People's Joker combines important trans representation with an admirable DIY/punk aesthetic, all held together by the spirit of artistic collaboration.

However, the coming-of-age/comedy/superhero parody looks schlocky, most of the performances are amateurish, and the humor largely lands with a thud — arguably appropriate for a film set in a world where comedy is illegal, but it doesn’t exactly make for compelling storytelling.

Instead, the work’s entertainment value is rooted in its visual variety, which spans a wide range of traditions (including numerous animation styles) and image quality, resulting in a product that’s a wild ride oscillating between inspiring and frustrating.

Best to simply be glad it exists, approach it as the hodgepodge miracle that it is, and not expect much else.

Grade: B-minus. Not rated, but with adult themes and language. Coming soon to streaming services.

(Photo courtesy of Altered Innocence)