Today’s quick review: Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem. Batman (Roger Craig Smith) has his hands full when the Joker (Troy Baker) and a group of fearsome villains try to take over Gotham. Batman teams up with Cyborg (Khary Payton), Green Arrow (Chris Diamantopoulos), Nightwing (Will Friedle), and Red Robin (Yuri Lowenthal) to stop the Joker’s plan, only to hit a wall when the Joker unleashes a computer virus that disables their technology.
Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem is a family animated superhero movie. Like its predecessor Animal Instincts, Monster Mayhem features a futuristic version of Gotham, an emphasis on vehicles and technology, and a thematic cast of villains. The movie earns points with its light tone, fun banter, and freewheeling action. However, the kid-friendly nature of the movie and some unsatisfying choices undermine its strengths.
Monster Mayhem polishes some of the better aspects of Animal Instincts. The futuristic technology is less obtrusive and better calibrated to the strengths of the heroes. The lineup of villains—Silver Banshee (Kari Wuhrer), Solomon Grundy (Fred Tatasciore), Scarecrow (Brian T. Delaney), and Clayface (Dave B. Mitchell)—is a hit, providing fun interactions between them and unique challenges for the heroes. The setup is promising.
But Monster Mayhem has a harder time sticking the landing. The computer virus has little resemblance to the Joker’s usual schemes and no connection to the monster theme of the movie. The supporting villains are gradually sidelined in favor of computer hijinks, and by the end of the movie, the rules are completely arbitrary. The story jettisons cohesion in favor of spectacle and ends up in a very different place from where it started.
Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem is a fun pick for younger audiences, and it holds some charm for older ones as well. Seeing the characters interact is a joy, and the action is entertaining for what it is. But Monster Mayhem fails to tell a satisfying story, and so it ends up squandering the good will it builds up early on. Approach with caution.
For an animated Batman movie that goes off the rails in similar ways, try Batman Ninja. For a family adventure taking place in a virtual world, try Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. For a more mature movie from DC featuring a cast of eccentric villains, try Suicide Squad: Assault on Arkham or Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay.
[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4729754/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for likable characters and decent action let down by poor plot work.