In case you were unaware, I love Batman. And like most Batman purists, I find enjoyment with every iteration of the character, from the campiness of Adam West’s 1960’s version and the 90’s Joel Schumacher films to the darker Christopher Nolan trilogy and the critically acclaimed animated series. A spinoff of the Lego Movie, Lego Batman combines all of the different incarnations into a fun, family friendly story about a brash, brooding hero whose greatest fear is being part of a family again.
Will Arnett returns as the voice of Lego Batman/Bruce Wayne, a talented but arrogant hero whose prideful life as a loner is turned on its head when new Police Commissioner Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) starts to steal his thunder. While the Joker (Zach Galifianakis) plans a scheme to take over Gotham City and prove to Batman that he is his one true arch nemesis, the Dark Knight struggles to share his mansion and crime fighting lifestyle with his butler, Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) and his adopted son Dick Grayson (Michael Cera) who is both skilled and overtly dorky.
Like The Lego Movie, this film is filled with sight gags and enough puns to play a drinking game to if you’re my age. Hilarious easter eggs that hearken back to all of the different incarnations of Batman are enough to please fans while the goofy tone and wholesome message are perfect for families with young children. Each character plays a fun role and the growth experienced by the titular character is arguably the most nuanced of any Batman character on film to date.
The animated film genre has long been one that works best when a film can entertain children and adults alike. Lego Batman manages to encapsulate old fans and young ones with a film that mixes the quirkiness of legos and the action of a comic book film. With loads of cameos and jokes for all ages, Lego Batman is proof that the Dark Knight doesn’t always have to be dark to be entertaining.
FINAL GRADE: A