'The Lego Batman Movie' A Review

The Lego Batman Movie is an animated superhero parody film, the next installment in the Lego franchise after The Lego Movie although not a direct sequel per say. Batman(Will Arnett) continues to fight crime in Gotham City full of confidence and self importance and after thwarting the Joker's(Zach Galifianakis) latest plot he hurts his arch enemies feeling by telling him he means nothing to him causing the Joker to seek revenge. Batman teams up with the new police commissioner Barbra Gordon(Rosario Dawson), his negligently adopted son Robin(Michael Cera), and his ever patient butler Alfred(Ralph Fiennes) to thwart the Joker and maybe learn something.

Arnett doubles down on his original turn as the Batman recapturing the know-it-all-obliviousness but also bringing a some heart, giving the titular character tons of humor and enough of a range to avoid the pitfall of repetition. The supporting cast all do well channeling a kind of manic humor and advocating a goofy fellowship however the humor is seemingly more important than the story or message so, although very funny, the performances are somewhat rote.

Visually the film is stupendous, vibrant colors and imaginative landscapes, vehicles, and characters. Within the confines of the Lego framework the film feels almost more imaginative, more evocative than conventional animation. The animators are more creative because of the restraints. The music is catchy and virtually constant but there is no break out hit and no actually complete songs, only spinets, which is a bit of a disappointment.

Hilarious and eye-popping but more a collage of references and jokes stitched together into a plot rather than an actual story.

Rent It.