The Lego Batman Movie
What do you get if you cross one of the most successful toy franchises in the world with one of the most successful superhero movie franchises in the world? You get the Lego Batman movie, that’s what. And thank goodness, because I’ll start by saying that it’s my favourite Batman movie since Tim Burton first looked at Gotham’s most famous vigilante and said “I like it. Now paint it all black.”
Lego have been bringing out their own versions of famous franchise tie-ins for years now in the world of computer games. There’s Lego Star Wars, Lego Doctor Who, Lego Indiana Jones…I’m surprised that we haven’t had Lego Aliens, or Lego Terminator yet. And the thing is that Lego could actually make those and get away with it, because something that they understand very well is that re-enacting famous movie characters and scenes with yellow, plastic-looking figures does somewhat lend itself to parodying the source material. This was done very well in the Lego Movie but was kind of secondary to the plot. It was used almost as an appeasement to the adults in the room, if you will. But dark times call for a dark knight, and after the last couple of big screen depictions Lego Batman may not be the hero we deserve, but he’s definitely the hero we need right now.
The film opens like a flash-bang in Hamleys, with Batman (Will Arnett) facing a whole plethora of super bat-villains including Scarecrow, Killer Croc, and the is-he-made-up-or-isn’t-he Captain Condiment (he isn’t, which just goes to prove that DC have had it coming for a while). They’re all being led by the Joker (Zach Galifianakis), who simply wants Batman to acknowledge that he, the Joker, is not only Batman’s greatest foe, but is also essential to Batman’s sense of identity, and that without him, the Bat would be nothing. I know what you’re thinking: “that sounds like some pretty dark, psychoanalytic stuff for a kid’s movie”, and you’re correct. But luckily for parents and studio executives, this Batman is a hilariously narcissistic, emotionally detached loner who lives on a diet of microwaved lobster thermidor-for-one, and thinks Jerry Macguire is a comedy. As such, it’s all fame, glory, and self-appreciation for our caped crusader, until Gotham gets a new Police Commissioner, Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson), who has an issue with people who dress up in costume and run around karate chopping the poor. This leads Batman to banish the Joker to the Phantom Zone (also, partly to one-up his biggest competitor Superman). Needless to say, things go wrong and it isn’t long before not only does the Joker return, but brings with him a host of cross-franchise baddies, such as Sauron, Lord Voldemort, and the Daleks, to wreak havoc in Gotham.
You’ll have to see it to find out any more, but suffice to say that bat-fans will love it. This movie smashes its way through hilarious references to previous Batman movies, like a six year old from Mile Cross with a baseball bat in Legoland. It’s a wonderful self-aware satire, a post-modern parody, a fouth wall fantasy. But hey, I know what you’re thinking. It’s all well and good that you liked it, but what about actual children? It is for them, after all. Well, don’t worry. I thought of that, and that’s why when I went to see it I borrowed – with permission from his parents, of course – ten year old Keane for the afternoon to see what he thought of the movie. Turns out he thought it was great as well, scoring the film 4.5 out of 5. He loved the in-jokes, and said that the one in particular that made him laugh was the Suicide Squad reference. Nice work Keane. So there you have it, the joint verdict is that it’s great for adults and for kids. All that remains is to say well done to Lego for making the movie, thank you to Cinema City for letting us see it, and Keane, I’m sorry for ratting you out in print for having seen Suicide Squad. I hope you’re not grounded for too long.
4.5/5
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