The LEGO Batman Movie Review
I loved The LEGO Movie (2014), and expectations were high for the next outing in the franchise, The LEGO Batman Movie. I’m happy to say that expectations were met. The film has everything you’d want from a family entertainment: funny lines for kids and adults alike, an entertaining story, some thoughtful moments, and a satirical look at one of the most self-serious superheroes around. Let’s get into it.
The story revolves around none other than the LEGO version of the Caped Crusader. He has just stopped all the criminals, and I mean ALL the criminals, in Gotham City once again, and Batman’s up to his usual tricks: being a selfish superhero who loves himself and being alone, but his butler Alfred thinks otherwise. Soon things make a turn when Batman’s arch-nemesis, The Joker, pulls a fast one on him and the entire city. After accidentally adopting an orphan, young Dick Grayson, Batman takes him on as a sidekick and the two set out to stop Joker’s big scheme and perhaps learn a few life lessons along the way.
So of course I have to say it: this movie features some of the best efforts of any Batman movie. Best on-screen incarnation of Robin, best depiction of Batgirl, arguably the best depiction of Alfred, and one of the better depictions of Batman and Joker. Also it’s one of the best Batman movies every made. If you’re like me and accept Batman: The Movie (1966) for what it is instead of what it isn’t, I’d say it joins the list with this film, The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) as the best the superhero has to offer. The film just plain tickled my funny bone from minute 1 to minute 100. Seriously, the movie gets the jokes started before the opening logos even begin. Also, the assembly of villains is insane. I seriously lost count just a few seconds into the lineup. Everybody from The Penguin to Riddler to Two-Face to Egghead to Eraser to Condiment Man or whatever are included. There are a few surprises with the villains, but its awesome. I’ll leave it at that. Plus it’s great to see Robin and Batman together again, and not when one of them is played by Chris O’Donnell. And hey, I actually like Batman Forever (1995) a lot more than most people, but still, best Robin we’ve ever had in a movie. The voice cast is sensational, with Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes getting more than just a paycheck out of their work. I’d even say if these same actors did a live-action version of these characters, they’d still kick ass. Zach Galifianakis does a good job voicing the Joker, and there’s a few other celebrity voices that might count as spoilers, so I won’t say who, but there’s a few you can listen for that are great as well. One of the best parts of the original LEGO Movie was the animation style they used to make it look like actual LEGOs moving around, and the animation looks great here as well. And of course for longtime fans of Batman, they slip in all the expected jokes: making fun of bat nipples from Batman & Robin (1997), referring to the Prince soundtrack from Batman (1989), the them song from the 60’s TV show, the 90’s animated series’, and even the 1940’s serials. They really leave no stone unturned as far as being meta goes, and as one of those lifelong fans of the character and his big and small screen incarnations, I couldn’t have been happier.
Really I don’t have many complaints, and any that I do have are just small stuff, like maybe one joke goes on a little long, but then there’s something else that makes up for it and we’re not on the subject for too long. I’ll sum it up this way: if you’re a fan of LEGO, including The LEGO Movie, you’ll like this. If you’re a fan of Batman, any incarnation, you’ll love this. And if you like or love both, you’ll be in heaven for 100 minutes. Or LEGO heaven, whatever. If you had any concerns about the first being a one-trick pony and everything else being a cash grab, which could still happen down the road, this LEGO universe has had one of the most promising starts to any animation type since, I’ll say it, Pixar. I’m not sure if they can surpass them or not, but still, this is an excellent film that everybody in the family should enjoy.
My rating: 10/10.
