The LEGO Batman Movie: Movie Review

2014's "The LEGO Movie" surprised us with how it was able to capture the fun and joy of being a kid - of creating wondrous worlds and adventures limited only by your imagination. Most importantly, the film wasn't all fun and games - it actually had a hear. And it was a gut-wrenching one at that that made sure it was a well-rounded experience for audiences. Fast forward to present day and it's not surprising that Warner Bros. wants to piggy back on the success of "The LEGO Movie" with spin-offs first of which is "The LEGO Batman Movie". Overall, "The LEGO Batman Movie" was able to capture a huge chunk of the fun and laughter but misses the on the crucial factor on why its predecessor was a hit in the first place.

LEGO Batman (Will Arnett) has always worked as a lone vigilante and has been self-absorbed to his own success - the quintessential narcissist. But when he refuses to acknowledge The Joker (Rosario Dawson) as his greatest enemy, the villain is hurt and devices a devious plan to prove to the Cape Crusader how crucial he is in his life. When all the villains are gone, will Gotham still need a Batman to protect them?

The first few seconds of "The LEGO Batman Movie" sets the tone that this is going to be a non-stop parody of just about anything under the sun and the film mostly delivers on this promise. From the Warner Bros. opening logo and the numerous Batman variations through the years, the film takes an ode and even a slap to the face to bring on the laughter. It's the "Deadpool" equivalent for kids and ismply put, it was hilarious. Most of the jokes are brought in by Arnett's take on the Cape Crusader but Cera as Robin, Fiennes as Alfred the Butler, and Galifianakis as Joker also delivered greatly on the slapstick front. The narrative itself is silly overall. It's not bad but it's not that great either. And this is probably were "The LEGO Batman Movie" takes a nose dive from its predecessor. The film lacked direction and there was no reward and no clincher to tie-up all the fun-filled humor. The story lacks a heart and if we could best describe "The LEGO Batman Movie" it would be taking a shotgun of humor straight to the face. It's a highly-effective scatter shot but ultimately still scattered. Visuals and soundtrack do not disappoint. It's darker visage doesn't take away from the unique visuals a LEGO world brings in. In the end, don't fret, the movie is still an enjoyable watch. It's just not as awesome as the first time.

Rating: 3 and a half reels




Why you should watch it:
- the humor makes this a non-stop hilarious experience from first second to last
- the visuals and soundtrack are awesome

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the narrative lacks direction