Today’s quick review: Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite. On the eve of Election Day, presidential candidate Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown) sets out to make his victory a lock by using the Joker’s (Christopher Corey Smith) chemical gas to brainwash the voters. When the pair of villains prove too powerful to stop alone, Batman (Troy Baker) reluctantly teams up with Superman (Travis Willingham) to foil their scheme.
Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite is an animated superhero adventure set in a Lego version of the DC Universe. Unlike other Lego films, Lego Batman: The Movie places its story first and its humor second. Although the movie is still family-friendly and has plenty of jokes, the focus is on Batman’s attempts to stop Lex Luthor and the Joker. The result is a comic book adventure writ small with a surprising amount of style.
Lego Batman: The Movie takes a very different approach from the later Lego DC Super Heroes movies. Instead of designing a world solely for comedy, the movie takes its inspiration from the classic Batman and Superman movie series. Detailed environments, dynamic camerawork, and more flexible use of the Lego models set Lego Batman: The Movie apart.
Lego Batman: The Movie also packs in quite a lot of action. Unlike its live-action counterparts, it is not afraid to toss in extra characters or new ideas. The result is a fast-paced movie that opens strong and escalates steadily to a large-scale finale. Furthermore, the extra care the movie takes with its presentation makes it easier to take the action seriously, making the conflicts satisfying in spite of the Lego environment.
Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite is something of an anomaly. It has the charm and the freewheeling spirit of a kids’ movie, but its engaging plot, semi-serious tone, and surprisingly skilled cinematography give it a quality that other Lego superhero movies usually lack. While it is not for everyone, Lego Batman: The Movie is worth a watch for DC fans looking for something fun that’s off the beaten path.
For a Lego take on Batman that’s more comedic, self-aware, and bigger-budget, check out The Lego Batman Movie. For lighter Lego adventures with Batman and Superman, try Lego DC Super Heroes: Justice League – Attack of the Legion of Doom! or Cosmic Clash.
[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2465238/). I give it a 7.0 for a modest premise executed with real passion.