The LEGO Batman Movie
3/5
Directed by: Chris McKay
Rated: PG
From those really cool dudes who gave the world the LEGO Movie, thanks guys, comes another amazing movie. It's cinema's first intentional Batman comedy, The LEGO Batman Movie. This is a movie about Batman, the villains in his life, the friends and family he struggles to let in to his world of crime fighting, and the awesome action packed comedy they had together. It will make you laugh, cry, sigh, and beet box.
The visual design of The LEGO Batman Movie is insane. It's made of mostly multi colored LEGO bricks, and none of them are wasted. The Bat cave is massive and stuffed with cool gadgets and vehicles, Gotham City is packed with minifigures and personality, and Arkham Asylum is loaded with bad guys. Everything in this movie is built with 1000 more bricks than necessary. The smallest of items have an extreme amount of detail. It gives this batman story more energy, more punch, and more eye popping sights than any other Bat film.
This movie has an exorbitant amount of top class comedic voice actors. Will Arnett is back in black as the tremendously hilarious awesome vigilante, Batman. His performance builds off of what audiences saw in The LEGO Movie, and develops his one minded moody attitude from the first film into a full fledged full of himself protagonist. Along with showing off his impeccable comedic timing and top notch dark and brooding Batman voice, Arnett also drops some sick Bat raps.
Joining Arnett is Michael Cera as the super positive no pants boy wonder, Robin, Rosario Dawson as the take charge can do commissioner's daughter, Barbara Gordon, and Ralph Fiennes as the ever faithful kick butt butler, Alfred. It's not just these heroes who make up this fantastic cast. There's also a whole rogue's gallery of bad guys and great stars. The enigmatic and psychotic Joker is voiced by a maniacal Zachary Galifianakis, filled with villainous intent and vulnerable heart. It sounds paradoxical, but it works, and it's adorable. It is one of the most unique and charming Joker performances audiences will see in theatres. There's also Jenny Slate as Harley Quinn, Siri as the voice of Batman's computer, Conan O' Brien as the Riddler, Channing Tatum as Superman, Billy Dee Williams as Two face, and loads others.
This movie does not just have jokes. It has sight gags, reference humor, perfect timing, classic bits, and jabs at the comic book industry; all of this and a side of lobster. The majority of people will not be able to help themselves from laughing obnoxiously. These jokes work along with an unexpected storyline about Batman's relationships with his Butler, the Police, his young ward, and his villains. This story, however, will slow down its pace, in order to make time for more jokes. It also has to slow down progression of the story, when Batman tries to start being serious. It never abruptly stops the film, but it is noticeable. It will make viewers question whether they should see this in theatres, but it is definitely worth watching with friends, when it's available on home release. People who should definitely watch this film are fans of The LEGO Movie, fans of the Batman franchise, fans of action packed relationship comedies, and people who are best of friends.
Verdict: The LEGO Batman Movie is an amazing super-hero comedy, with ridiculous LEGO packed sets, an incredible voice cast, a bonkers sense of humor, Bat references, Bat action, and Bat raps.
