The Lego Batman Movie
Starring Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis
Directed by Chris McKay
After the massive global success of 2014’s The Lego Movie, it’s fair to say there was some trepidation about a spinoff seeking to capitalize on one of the flick’s main scene-stealers. Thankfully, you can put your anxiety to rest because The Lego Batman Movie quells many fears that this latest venture is merely a merchandise-laden cash grab.
Drama ensues after The Joker (Galifianakis) hatches a new plan to willingly surrender to authorities, only to be banished to the Phantom Zone. Soon enough, Batman (Arnett), Robin (Michael Cera), and Batgirl (Rosario Dawson) team up with a merry band of recognizable superheroes to take on the iconic villain and an army of diabolical foes.
Perhaps the most amazing feat accomplished by the film is how the writers have managed to delicately balance a new and somewhat original installment in the crowded universe, while lampooning the hell out of every incarnation over the decades. No iteration of Batman is safe from mockery here – from the swinging ’60s Adam West days, to the horribly campy Joel Schumacher era, to Christian Bale’s brooding treatment, the meta-jabs are peppered throughout.
Admittedly, Lego Batman is one giant toy commercial; this will come as a surprise to virtually nobody who saw the first Lego flick and, although its intentions are admirable, an air of cynicism persists. Quibbles aside, The Lego Batman Movie is an often uproarious crowd-pleaser. What the movie lacks in originality, it makes up for in action, surefire humour, and, most importantly, an emphasis on character over spectacle.
