“Iron Man sucks.” —Batman
Today’s quick review: The Lego Batman Movie. After Batman (Will Arnett), Gotham’s egotistical protector, foils the Joker’s (Zach Galifianakis) latest scheme, the supervillain hatches a plan to prove that he is Batman’s greatest villain. With the fate of Gotham on the line, Batman must learn to work with Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson), the new police commissioner, Dick Grayson (Michael Cera), his adopted son, and his butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) to save the day.
The Lego Batman Movie is a family action comedy from the creators of The Lego Movie. Packed with the same wacky humor as its spiritual predecessor, The Lego Batman Movie serves up a potent combination of absurd humor, silly action, and Batman parody. Its breakneck pacing, attention to detail, and kitchen sink approach to comedy make it an energetic and often hilarious watch for anyone with even a passing familiarity with Batman.
The film embraces all the extremes of the Batman mythos, from his expansive rogues’ gallery to his legendary fighting prowess to all the goofiest moments of the character’s decades-long history. But the story itself breaks the typical Batman mold. The heart of the movie is an exaggerated lesson about teamwork and overcoming emotional distance, delivered using the same loose, eclectic storytelling as The Lego Movie.
The movie kicks off with a quick, Joker-led caper involving a ridiculous number of Batman villains, but from there it veers into new territory. The movie’s parodies and exaggerations give it an identity distinct from any canonical incarnation of Batman, with a story cut from whole cloth. These departures make The Lego Batman Movie more a flight of fancy than a direct riff on the Batman formula.
The film’s sense of humor is its greatest strength. The rapid-fire jokes run the gamut from simple sight gags to jabs at the genre to obscure Batman references. The movie is packed to the brim with in-jokes for savvy fans, but it never loses its general appeal. The sheer intricacy of the scenes ensures that there will always be something funny going on. For every joke that misses the mark, there are two more that hit.
The comedy is backed by an impressive cast of voice actors. Will Arnett dominates with his self-absorbed caricature of Batman, a role that justifies the movie’s existence by itself. His childish personality, inflated ego, and penchant for beatboxing make for a character that is consistently funny. He is joined by Michael Cera as Robin, whose over-the-top innocence and vulnerability make him a foil to Batman.
The rest of the cast is solid as well. Ralph Fiennes voices Alfred, Batman’s surrogate father figure and a natural fit for the British actor. Rosario Dawson plays Barbara Gordon, Batman’s ally, professional rival, and dubious love interest. Zach Galifianakis makes for an odd but competent Joker, never topping Mark Hamill’s take but working well nonetheless. The rest of the cast contains a number of familiar names tucked away in unexpected roles.
Watch The Lego Batman Movie if you are in the mood for a hilarious parody of the superhero genre. Fans of The Lego Movie will find a lot to love in its spiritual successor, and Batman fans will enjoy the movie’s thorough treatment of the character. The rapid pacing, childlike storytelling, and genre-bending flavor may be enough to sour some viewers, but for most, The Lego Batman Movie will be a fun watch.
7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for excellent humor.