Film: The Lego Batman Movie
Director: Chris McKay
Cast: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes, Zach Galifianakis
What’s it about:
2014’s The Lego Movie is the sort of movie you remember for all the right reasons. Not going in with expectations, being pleasantly surprised by how good it was and how it takes you along for a ride that’s out of the ordinary, where everything is awesome. Batman (Arnett) kinda ruined it for poor Emmett in that one and hijacked that film. So it would be only fair they gave him his own movie, right?
Well, some studio executive thought so… and that’s how you have this movie. Which takes all the boring-ness of the Batman myth and pokes fun at it with the eagerness of a kid high on candy hitting a pinata. Thankfully, you’re spared the original story. Bruce Wayne/Batman is shown as nothing short of a cad, who’s not below sledging Iron Man just because he can. This film has him dealing with two people who want to get into a relationship with him. The new ‘comish’ Barbara Gordon (Dawson) is eager to be friend/partner to the Dark Knight, but the man just wants to be alone. Well, that doesn’t stop him from ogling at her, adopting an orphan, and saving Gotham over and over again.
The Joker (Galifianakis) wants Batman to acknowledge him as his arch nemesis, but loner and narcissist that the Bat is, he cuts him down. Distraught, the clown prince ‘gives up’ his life of crime and settles in Arkham.
Batman then decides to send the Joker to the Phantom Zone where he can’t return and wreak havoc anymore. But Barb won’t have any of it. And then, there’s his pesky ‘son’, Dick Grayson (Cera) to deal with, too. Do Lego Gotham’s problem’s end there, though. And with Joker and everyone else locked in Arkham Asylum of their own free will, is there a need for Batman?
What’s hot:
If The Lego Movie was about an ordinary guy finding his inner superhero, Lego Batman is the complete opposite. It takes the Bat myth and makes you hate, then feel sorry for and soon, despise Batman. It takes the super out of hero, and shows an alternative, darker take on the Dark Knight. What’s even more hilarious is what ensues after the Joker hits up the Phantom Zone, where all the bad guys are locked away and cannot harm anyone, and sets them free. The idea that anything can, will and should go wrong is an idea worth exploring. And the fact that WB/DC continue to poke fun at Marvel as well as their own roster of characters (look out for the eye of Sauron) as well as a few others (Whovians, do look out for the Daleks!)
What’s not:
The rather slow middle. You want to fire this film’s editor. And this song’s music supervisor/director, pronto. There’s nothing as catchy here as Everything Is Awesome. The writing is not as crisp as the first film and the gags, while in good measure, seem a tad juvenile in parts. And that it feels a bit derivative, too.
What to do:
Watch it nevertheless.Running time and obvious flaws notwithstanding, you’re in for a fun time. Everything is good, but everything is not awesome.
Rating: *** (3 Stars)
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 "Film Review, Film Reviews, Hollywood, The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Batman Movie Review, Michael Cera,Rosario Dawson,Will Arne")
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