He hides in the shadows, protects the citizens of Gotham City from the worst of criminals, and the best of all, he lives in Bruce Wayne’s basement…or attic. He is Batman. The LEGO Batman Movie is a goofy film which tells a different story of the watchful guardian of Gotham. Bruce Wayne or Batman (voiced by Will Arnett) fights crime and is seen by many as a hero while others see him as a vigilante in the night. When our caped friend is not fighting crime, he spends his time in his manor, which is an island, and watches food cook in the microwave, or romantic comedies in his home theater and generally goofs around in his Batcave. Batman is lonely and is too proud to admit it even when trusty Alfred Pennyworth (voiced by Ralph Fiennes) rebukes his broody isolation.
Directed by Robot Chicken alum Chris McKay, trouble in The LEGO Batman Movie arrives early when The Joker (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) plants a bomb that could possibly destroy all of Gotham. Batman arrives and kicks major butt, or more specifically major bricks. In one moment, Batman has to decide whether capturing The Joker is more important than saving Gotham. The Joker insists that he is Batman’s greatest villain to which Batman only considers Superman to be his greatest villain; The Joker get emotional and even gets teary-eyed upon hearing this as Batman lets him go and saves Gotham once again. Have we ever seen The Joker cry before? It’s pretty hilarious.
We are then given a unique glimpse of Batman who sits at home all alone with nothing to do except for when trouble arrives. Commissioner Gordon announces his retirement at a Gala Event in which his daughter Barbra (voiced by Rosario Dawson) takes on the reins. She wants major changes in Gotham and one of those changes is not having Batman around. All of a sudden The Joker arrives with numerous baddies and in a shocking twist, they all surrender to Batman and the new Commissioner Barbra. Batman is unaware that during the Gala party he was talking to young Dick Grayson (voiced by Michael Cera), an orphan who he later adopts but has no memory of the conversation. Reluctant at first to interact with the young boy, Alfred locks Batman out of his computer in order to spend time with Dick and become something of a family, something that Batman lost long ago. Batman makes use of Dick and lets him accompany him on a secret mission to steal something from Superman. There are so many references to numerous Superheroes that most of the kids who see this film will not fully comprehend, but the older audiences will definitely being laughing a great deal.
The LEGO Batman Movie is fast-paced from the chaotic action sequences through its numerous comedic gags and in significant strides appears to understand the character more deftly than in recent live-action iterations. Refreshingly, this surely different spin on the titular character is funny, goofy, and offers a wild time. This film takes a step back from the seriousness and self-seriousness of comic book recent comic book adaptations and gives us something resonate and first and foremost, entertaining. This movie is so funny from the opening shot to the final frame (yes I said final frame) that I was smiling from ear to ear the entire time.
Verdict: 5 out of 5
The LEGO Batman Movie may not strike the awesomeness or the ingenuity of The LEGO Movie, but it doesn’t have to. This film is about Batman on a new adventure. The writing – the script was credited to Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jared Stern and John Whittington – is gut-busting funny and it’s going to be difficult to not enjoy the clever references throughout the film. This is one unique Batman film because we actually get to see a different side to him, something that we haven’t seen before, his true self behind the mask. The action is fun and loud, the animation is awe-inspiring, plus the songs are also a lot of fun as well. So, join our caped crusader once again for some high-flying fun and just maybe if you say, “Iron Man sucks,” Batman will let you into his Batcave.
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