Review: Lego Batman Is The Best Batman There Is.
- Mar 31, 2017
- 2 min read
Allow me to preface this review with a side note, comparing Lego Batman to other superhero films are somewhat unfair. The movie's setting gives it an advantage that few other films have, access to the numerous licenses that Lego has access to.
Batman (Will Arnett) is unstoppable. He's at the height of his game. He's putting away villains so quickly even the C-Listers are behind bars. And, as usual, he's doing it alone. But when the Joker (Zach Galifianakis) surrenders, along with the rest of Gotham's rogues, the world no longer needs Batman. Alas, as it is with these things, the Joker is up to something, the greatest of his schemes and the most nefarious of his plots. Before it all ends Batman will accept that he hates the Joker and maybe, just maybe, make a few friends along the way.
What Lego Batman has that so many other superhero movies lack is it's self awareness. From the introductory logos to the end credits, anything that can be mocked, is, and mercilessly so. Be it DC's own failing with Suicide Squad and Batman V Superman, the success of the Marvel films, the ridiculous nature of the characters present or even the very core of Batman himself, nothing is safe from the stellar writing on display. Lego Batman would be nothing without it. While the cameos and in-jokes are nigh on endless and the animation is excellent, more on that later, it's the writing that brings Lego Batman to new heights.
Never has animated Lego looked better. While the original Lego Movie, a universe in which this film takes place, looked good, Lego Batman goes one step further. From individually distinct pieces, scratches, dints and finger prints, masses of writhing bricks and some excellent action sequences, Lego Batman shows what can be done with style. The faux-stop motion looks great, as does the world around it. Again, the easter eggs come thick and fast with everything from old batmobiles to obscure characters, all of it rendered in lego form.
Lego Batman may not be the best superhero movie, not even the best animated movie, but when it comes to Batman, there's none better. It can be serious when it wants to, has some genuine laughs and is packed so full of content, both from the main film and within the background, that it's surprising to see how well it worked out. It's safe to say you'll enjoy this one, hell, it's convinced me to give the Lego Ninjago movie a shot so it can't be all bad.
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