The lack of comic book sensibilities makes the darkness of Joaquin Phoenix’s character all the more real, and while the audience largely feels it’s done well, that’s not the same thing as saying anything about Joker is “enjoyable.”
While Joker isn’t the first comic book movie to attempt a realistic portrayal of its character, it may be the one that has gone the furthest in that direction.
Instead this is a character study of a man as he spirals downward.