Sure, The LEGO Batman Movie was hilarious, heart-warming and peculiarly deep, but let’s give Ben Affleck another shot at Batman. He totally deserves it. Three years ago, LEGO made a ninety minute commercial and sold it as a major motion picture. I don’t really care if it was a big commercial; The Lego Movie was one of the best films of 2014.
Arguably the best part of The Lego Movie was Batman (voice of Will Arnett), not only a plastic superhero, but more importantly the daft, self-centered, and unwitting nemesis to everyday Emmet. Lego dared ask, “what if Batman is shallow and vain?” In The LEGO Batman Movie, we add lonely to that group of previously unexplored Batman descriptions and the result is magical – After saving Gotham, Batman returns the his digs, opening the Batcave with the password “Iron Man Sucks,” reheating cold Lobster Thermidore in the microwave and settling down to Jerry Maguire on the Bat-tivo. Does Batman/Bruce Wayne have intimacy issues? This just got funnier.
The action begins when the Joker (Zach Galifianakis) shows up to be defeated and escape, something he’s done for my entire lifetime. The Batman/Joker banter takes an odd turn – Joker prides himself on being Batman’s greatest enemy. Batman deadpans mild objection; he doesn’t even consider Joker, much less deem him a great enemy (Batman IDs “Superman” as his greatest enemy, FWIW). As Joker realizes the sincerity in the Caped Crusader’s voice, a tear wells up in his eye – suddenly it’s a much different take on the hapless “I did all this for you” standard. Awwwww, we all just want attention from time-to-time. Is that too much to ask? Is Joker’s latest attempt to destroy Gotham nothing more than the overreaction of a rejected suitor? Geez, man, 
we’ve all been there. And as the camera focuses on Lego Joker increasingly misty-eyed and disconsolate (in the middle of an action scene, mind you), I realized two things: 1) There’s more depth in this moment than in any other in this history of the Batman/Joker relationship. 2) A piece of plastic just pwned Jared Leto.
Just in case the moments are too adult in nature – and this movie caters to adults like few cartoons have before it (ex. Batman scolding Joker: “you mean that thing with the two ships?” … “or that thing in the art gallery with the Prince music?” … even the Bat shark repellant joke will hit home to a number of us), soon Batman acquires young orphan Master Grayson (“The kids call me ‘Dick’ “ “Yeah. Kids can be cruel.”) because this movie is about the value of friendship as much as it is about pleasing anybody who knows the name Adam West. Is it weird that Ralph Fiennes voices Batman’s mentor/butler/manservant/father figure Alfred, but Lego Voldemort is voiced by Eddie Izzard?
Strange to say for a Batman film, but if I have any objection here it’s that the film gets a tad too battle heavy. The Batman Monologues are the reason this film not only rocks, but will certainly reiterate itself in the future. The action, while occasionally fun, isn’t half as stellar as the script. Of course, if you feel this is all one big commercial and loathe the inevitable and regrettable appeasement trip to the Lego store near you later this week, well, you might be of a slightly different opinion.
If you can have a better time at the movies this year, have it. But I guarantee it’s not going to happen often. I can’t wait to sneak into this film again.
♪I can’t stand to cry
It’s all my show, you see
Don’t care if you mind
This is all ‘bout me
I’m more than a nerd, or some introvert
I’m more than any random skilled expert
And I’m just pleased, see, to be me♫
Rated PG, 104 Minutes
D: Chris McKay
W: Seth Grahame-Smith and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers and Jared Stern & John Whittington
Genre: Reinventing a legend
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Batman fans. Any/all Batman fans
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Anti-shills
♪ Parody inspired by “Superman (It’s Not Easy)”
