The Lego Batman Movie - Film Review

I don’t think anything could have prepared me for how much I loved 2014’s The Lego Movie. It’s one of the best animated features I’ve ever seen, a winning combination of unique animation, intelligent humor and heartfelt storytelling. And seeing as how Will Arnett’s Lego Batman character was one of its biggest highlights, it came as no surprise to anyone when Warner Bros. announced a new entry in the Lego series focused on the character. Does The Lego Batman Movie live up to the high bar set by its predecessor? The short answer is ‘no.’ The longer answer is ‘no, but it’s still a whole lot of fun.’

Things kick off in splendid fashion with an extended action sequence in which Batman saves Gotham City from the clutches of his Rogues Gallery for the umpteenth time. After he basks in the adoration of a glowing public, he returns home to celebrate.

Alone.

Needless to say, Batman’s home life is far less fulfilling than his crimefighting one. He lazes about in his giant swimming pool, feasts on microwaved lobster meals and carries on conversations with a massive portrait of his dead parents. Alfred, his ever-faithful butler, recognizes and points out the crucial element Batman is missing from his life: a family.

Batman’s world is turned upside down when he accidentally adopts Dick Grayson, a high-spirited, eager-to-please young orphan. After Dick discovers the batcave (with a little help from Alfred), he leaps at the opportunity to aid Batman in his never-ending battle for justice. And it’s not a moment too soon. The Joker has a sinister plan up his sleeve and Batman will need all the help he can get in taking the Joker down and saving Gotham City once more.

I’ll give The Lego Batman Movie this much: if nothing else, it kept me laughing. Every time my interest began to drift, a perfectly-timed one-liner would pull me right back in. The bad news is my interest drifted far more often than not. Where The Lego Movie felt like a work of genuine passion and blazing originality, The Lego Batman Movie feels a bit more calculated, less a genuine creative effort than an attempt to bank off its predecessor’s success. And while I can appreciate The Lego Batman Movie’s valid attempts to make the character fun again, it does so at the expense of developing a genuine emotional center. The continuous onslaught of jokes makes it difficult to connect with the material. It’s as if the filmmakers were concerned slowing the relentless pacing down for a few minutes would lose the audience. It’s not to say the film doesn’t have heart; there’s no question it does. It’s just difficult to feel genuinely invested in such a hyperactive film.

But the moments that work tip the balance in the film’s favor. There are tons of great Easter Eggs and subtle references for Batman fans, and even though I wish the creative team had delved a bit deeper into examining the character, I can’t fault them for making a clear effort to celebrate his legacy. And something else that should come as a surprise to no one, the casting is superb. Will Arnett makes a welcome return as the Dark Knight with Michael Cera filling in as the enthusiastically optimistic Boy Wonder and Ralph Fiennes serving as the indispensable Alfred Pennyworth. Rosario Dawson and Zach Galifianakis are excellent in their respective roles as Barbara Gordon and the Joker, and the film is full of fantastic cameos from many familiar faces that I won’t spoil here.

The Lego Batman Movie is a consistently hilarious effort, providing solid entertainment for Lego and Batman fans of all ages. It might be something of a step back for this budding franchise, but it’s still inventive and funny enough to rise above its shortcomings. That being said, the manic, ADD-esque energy levels these films demonstrate may be starting to wear out their welcome. It’s charming enough…for now…but if the Lego creative team wants to keep people invested in future films that won’t be able to rely on an established character such as Batman, they’re going to need to start devoting some serious time to going beyond the flashy animation and zippy punchlines and not being afraid to give us something to invest in.

FINAL RATING: 3/5