THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (U) FOUR STARS
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DARKNESS. No parents. The sickest backflips. Of the many delights that 2014’s The Lego Movie offered, the gloriously self-aware portrayal of Batman was definitely one of its highlights. And this wondrously bonkers spin-off adventure goes completely and utterly full tilt with any and all things Caped Crusader.
Batman (once again voiced with comical gruffness by Will Arnett) has been used to saving Gotham City, overcompensating for his lack of friends and unchecked mommy and daddy issues by bragging his way to victory upon victory. But this version throws a rather intriguing spanner in the works: he finds himself no longer needed.
Not only does the new Commissioner Gordon (Rosario Dawson) want to put a stop to this hero in black acting as a vigilante outside of the law but The Joker (Zach Galifianakis) surrenders himself and, in turn, the rest of the city’s villains to custody. Batman isn’t happy with this and hatches a plan to break The Joker out of prison and banish him to the Phantom Zone.
But we soon learn this is all part of The Joker’s plan to release a new wealth of baddies to reign down on Gotham. When our hero discovers he’s accidentally adopted a boy, Dick Grayson (AKA Robin, adorably voiced by Michael Cera), he sets out to stop The Joker for good.
This is a clever film wrapped up in a veil of silliness, positively bursting at the seams with witty gags, pop culture references and characterful slapstick – suitable for all ages. It skews preconceived notions of the Batman universe; the loss of his parents portrayed so many times, The Joker’s need for his heroic nemesis to hate him, the super-serious nature of The Dark Knight Trilogy and Batman v Superman and where he fits into the Justice League without any actual superpowers.
Not that it’s a serious take on the character; it’s a film with its tongue firmly wedged in its cheek. But there’s something to be said for this umpteenth movie centred on that most famous of superheroes that it can carve out an identity for itself, using the 80-plus year of comic book lore and previous adaptations as a springboard from which to launch an anarchic cavalcade of over the-top action and joke-a-minute tomfoolery that really pops thanks to the gorgeously vibrant animation.
One of its most fun segments comes when The Joker manages to unleash a whole slew of familiar villains from other franchises; Lord Voldemort, Sauron, King Kong, the Daleks, Agents Smiths from The Matrix and the Gremlins, as well as some more ridiculous baddies like Condiment King and Calendar Man, are among those brought in on the fun.
For the kids in the audience (or anyone in need of innocent positivity) who will come to see their favourite Caped Crusader kick some colourful butt, they will actually get a positive central message to take away with them: the benefits of making friends and, as the song goes, everything is, indeed, cool when you’re part of a team.
Batman may be the hero Gotham has needed for a long time but this is certainly the Batman movie we needed right about now. It may not have the outright heart of its predecessor but this is the freshest and most enjoyable take on the character in years.
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