[rating=9.00]
In a world where we’re 75% sure we’re living in The Twilight Zone, there’s not a lot to look forward to. In times like these we turn to simple pleasures. The sun on your skin, the taste of your favorite foods, and The Lego Batman Movie. In what could have been a simple piggyback off the success of 2014’s The Lego Movie, its prominent off-shoot has created a new branch in the Lego universe. To put it frankly, it’s goddamn delightful.
From the second the movie opens, the supersedes any complaints that could be made from hardcore Batman fans. Arnett’s characterization keeps Batman accessible to all; he’s an arrogant, lonely hero, quipping out fantastic one liners and dwelling on the isolation of being a masked vigilante in a very kid friendly “we all feel feelings” way. We even get a fitting homage to the past Batman films and series, showcasing iconic moments and themes without feeling grossly shoehorned.
The magic that made up the original Lego Movie comes out tenfold, existing primarily in Lego Gotham City where the Joker runs amuck on a regular basis, and the GCPD has given over any and all crime fighting over to Batman. As seen in most of the previews, the main turmoil between Joker and Batman is the latter’s inability to acknowledge their mutual hate for one another, insisting that the Joker is not the only thorn in his side. Joker’s rage hits new levels, and as Batman deals with his persistent loneliness, the Joker hatches a scheme to destroy the city once and for all
The subtlety the film delivers accounts for most of its funniest moments. The fact that the stellar cast is comprised of some of the entertainment industry’s favorite funny folks brings a new level to the suspension of disbelief we’re normally required to sustain for movies like this. Rather than being distracted by say, Arnett’s iconic time spent on Arrested Development brought to mind by his cadence, we’re instead treated to a personification of the Lego characters by their voice over counterpart.
While there isn’t much to criticize (save for the occasional dad joke, that let’s face it, the whole theater is going to laugh about) there was a varied disappointment at the lack of character development in some of the most recognizable Batman characters. It’s eventually made up for later with a new batch of soon to be favorites and limited edition Lego playsets, but suffice to say it’s still noticed. To be honest the main problem that stood out came solely from an annoyingly stringent watching of the movie looking for flaws, distracting from the overall glory of some of the best moments.
Rather than give away fantastic jokes or plot developments, it seems pertinent to urge even the stubbornest of curmudgeon to take a moment to appreciate the shear humanity that comes out of a movie starring little plastic figures. As ridiculous as it sounds, we could learn from the lessons of Lego Batman and friends; he truly is the hero we need.
The Lego Batman Movie is now playing in theaters everywhere.
