The People's Joker (2022) review

This self-described "queer coming-of-age story" also so happens to be set in the DC Universe: a little kid (Griffin Kramer) grows up miserable in the Midwest and doesn't get along with his mother (Lynn Downey) so, as an adult (Drew), moves to Gotham City where Batman is a closeted tyrant, starts an "anti-comedy" club with the Penguin (Nathan Faustyn), embraces her new identity (as "Joker the Harlequin"), falls for trans male Mr. J. (Kane Distler) and is "discovered" by famed producer Lorne Michaels (voiced by comedian Maria Bamford) for a TV show (similar to SNL).  It's easy to respect Drew's DIY defiance in the face of legal action (from Warner Bros. Discovery) as she turns the Joker narrative into a personal tale about depression and the need for acceptance and brings together various artists to craft the animated bits (which are done using both CGI and more traditional techniques), but its charm wears thin once its points become clear ... and then it becomes a lecture.  As far as directorial debuts go (Drew has experience working as an editor), I hope future filmmakers take note: despite its flaws, it does have a good number of clever moments - Joker's encounter with Mx. Mxyzptlk could have come out of an acid-laced kids program, Tim Heidecker's impression of Alex Jones is impressive - and anything that irritates Our Corporate Overlords and their Army of Litigators and would make Jack Smith applaud from the heavens can't be all that bad....