Today’s quick review: Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants. Enraged by the drilling at his Antarctic hideaway, Mr. Freeze (Oded Fehr) teams up with the Penguin (Dana Snyder) and four Arkham inmates to engineer giant monsters that will freeze Gotham. Batman (Roger Craig Smith) joins forces with the new Robin (Lucien Dodge), Nightwing (Will Friedle), Green Arrow (Chris Diamantopoulos), and the Flash (Charlie Schlatter) to fight back.
Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants is a family animated superhero movie, the third and final in the Batman Unlimited series. Mechs vs. Mutants scales up the action by pitting Batman and his allies against giant-sized foes. The movie features a serviceable plot, kid-friendly action, and a giant monster-themed niche that’s nearly unique in the Batman franchise. However, a shallow story and a contrived premise hold it back.
Mechs vs. Mutants is where the world of Batman Unlimited comes into its own. The cast overlaps with Animal Instincts, giving the series a nice sense of continuity. The character dynamics feel comfortable on both the hero and villain sides. And while the monster gimmick feels forced, the movie commits to it fully, making Mechs vs. Mutants more consistent than its predecessors and opening the door for some fun, destructive battles.
The shortcomings of Mechs vs. Monsters are similar to the other movies in the series. The movie takes a grab bag approach to its world, dropping the moody atmosphere of Gotham for a menagerie of colorful characters. The story is driven by the need to show off new vehicles, weapons, and character designs as much as anything. Finally, the script has very little going on besides the main conflict and some light banter.
Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants puts forth a more credible effort than its predecessors, but it will still struggle to capture the attention of older viewers. Anyone willing to relax, have fun, and let the movie take liberties with the rules of Batman’s universe will have a good time. But anyone looking for a fully developed plot or a hook that is more in line with typical Batman stories may want to steer clear.
For a Batman movie that toys with similar ideas, try Batman Ninja. For family superhero adventure with a similarly freewheeling attitude, try The Lego Batman Movie. For mechs versus giant monsters in a better-developed world, try Pacific Rim. For another Batman adventure with mechs, try Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.
[5.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5896146/). I give it a 6.5 for fun action coupled with a shallow story.