Review: The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Preparing for a house move is going as well as it can do right now. Our weekends have been spent doing big sort outs rather than relaxing, but it feels good to make a head start at least. There was a moment of sadness in the house on Saturday when my husband had to pack all of his DC, Marvel and Star Wars Lego away in plastic storage boxes, so the timing of a preview weekend for The Lego Batman Movie couldn’t have been more perfect!

If you watched The Lego Movie back in 2014 (clearly The Academy didn’t because it was ROBBED of a nomination) you’ll already be aware of Lego Batman, voiced by Will Arnett. He’s back, with his own movie this time, and I’m willing to bet my hard earned cash that it’s the greatest DC movie that’ll come out this year.

It’s common knowledge that The Joker is Batman’s greatest villain. Sure, Gotham City has many great bad guys, but it always comes back to The Joker. That’s played on throughout the entire movie, in a humorous, anti-romcom kind of way, which never gets old. The Joker is voiced expertly by Zach Galifianakis, and plays a huge role in this movie, unlike that other recent DC movie where a green-haired Joker barely featured.

Seriously guys…this movie even handled Batman’s tension with Superman well…and no one had to even mention Martha.

 

To attempt to list the number of characters that feature in this movie would take forever, but it has Justice League members from Superman to Martian Manhunter, and Villains from Bane to The Condiment King. There are also some err, other villains that I don’t think anyone was expecting to turn up. To tell you would be a spoiler, but one character in particular, voiced by Jemaine Clement was simply hilarious.

 

The plot is simple enough, and if you’ve seen the trailers you’ll know most of it already. Batman refuses to admit to the Joker that he needs him, so the Joker sets out to prove him wrong. Along the way, Batman accidentally adopts a young orphan by the name of Richard Grayson (Michael Cera) who you may know better as Robin! Robin just wants a family of his own, and Batman’s greatest fear (apart from snake clowns) is being part of a family again, so that causes issues along the way. It’s a plot that the kids can keep up with, but there’s so much else for the grown ups to enjoy.

I’m not well versed in Batman lore, but I understood enough references to feel part of it all. There are references everywhere, for Batman fans of all ages, and I have a specific moment in my mind when I say that. The soundtrack is great, but the best tracks are the ones that Batman himself sings/beatboxes/raps. He even narrates the only boring part of movies, the opening title credits!

The Lego Batman movie will appeal to all ages, and just like it’s predecessor, it demands at least one rewatch to spot all the hidden jokes that the animators have hidden. It’s the perfect movie to unwind with in between all these dramatic Oscar movies! 4/5 Lego Bricks from me! Just be careful not to step on them…

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