Everything is awesome with Chris McKay’s directorial debut, “The LEGO Batman Movie”. Because what’s not to love about everyone’s favourite Caped Crusader?
Produced by “The LEGO Movie” creators Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the highly anticipated feature film is everything we expected and hoped for – from eye-popping animation work to clever lines, and even brilliant song selections.
Before we start our review, we’d like to first point out that LEGO Batman isn’t your typical Batman. Unless you’ve been avoiding the film’s epic trailers, you’d probably know by now that this Batman is a lobster-loving, rom-com-watching (his favourite movie is “Jerry Maguire” starring Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger, by the way), ego-centric super dork. He is also a pretty dope beat boxer and a heavy metal music fan who writes his own theme songs.
Did we also mention that he’s a hilarious show-off? Not only does he think that he’s the best superhero there ever is, but he also wants to take credit for Michael Jackson’s famous “Man in the Mirror” line. And to be honest, we loved that about him.
You’ll know what we mean when you listen to his theme song, “Who’s the (Bat)Man” (performed by Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boys), below:
The main theme of “The LEGO Batman Movie” is family and friendship. As Alfred Pennyworth (voiced by Ralph Fiennes), Batman aka Bruce Wayne’s butler and resident father figure, points out, the lone vigilante’s deepest fear is being part of a family again. Director McKay once said, “Batman is an island onto himself, the only thing he doesn’t have is relationships.”
So the storyline is pretty clear about 30 minutes into the movie: Batman must join forces with others to save Gotham City and he eventually develops a sense of belonging to his peers, most notably his adoptive son Dick Grayson aka Robin (voiced by Michael Cera); Commissioner Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl (voiced by Rosario Dawson); and Alfred. Despite the predictable plot, every moment of him slowly opening up to his peers is both entertaining and heartwarming to watch. Although it’s not the best Batman, it’s certainly the goofiest and most human version of the grim superhero (yet).
The film also places focus on Batman and The Joker’s (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) love-hate relationship. In this film, The Joker is surprisingly sensitive and all he ever wanted was to hear Batman say, “I hate you, Joker.”
The film starts off with The Joker (alongside other villains like Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Bane, Two-Face, etc) attempting to take over the city with a deadly jumbo bomb. Batman, disguised as Madam Mayor (voiced by Mariah Carey), swoops in and kicks everyone’s butt, saving the day. When The Joker claimed to be Batman’s biggest enemy, the Caped Crusader replies that he cares about no one, thus upsetting The Joker.
In order to make Batman acknowledge him, he sets out to recruit the world’s biggest, baddest, most historical villains who are all locked up in the Phantom Zone, a prison dimension featured in the Superman comic books. We don’t want to spoil it for you, but let’s just say that one of these baddies is an extremely dark magician who can speak Parseltongue 😉
The film is also filled with plenty of Batman’s Deadpool-ish remarks, Easter eggs, and inside jokes. For example, Batman takes a jab at Marvel by using “Iron Man Sucks” as the password to his Bat Cave, located below Bruce Wayne Manor/Island. There are also some honourable nods to the previous Batman movies, including last year’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”.
If we had to nitpick, we’d say that the songs in the film aren’t as good as the original LEGO movie. Because let’s be honest here, is there anything more awesome than “Everything is Awesome”? Ya, we didn’t think so.
All in all, “The LEGO Batman Movie” is unlike any other DC films. It is funny, lighthearted, and dare we say, close to perfect. Heck, it’s the best Batman movie since “The Dark Knight”! (Sorry, Ben Affleck).
Check out LEGO Batman’s super cool crib below:
Batman out. *mic drop*
“The LEGO Batman Movie” opened in cinemas on 9th February.
For more information, hit up the film’s Facebook page.
Featured image: Warner Bros.
