The Lego Batman Movie: Everything is Awesome-er

LEGO® minifigure Batman (WILL ARNETT) in the animated adventure "The LEGO Batman Movie," from Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Animation Group, in association with LEGO System A/S, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. BATMAN and all related characters and elements TM & © DC Comics

Everything is awesome-er in this Batman-themed spin-off to The Lego Movie.

Will Arnett reprises his role as Batman in this family-friendly sequel that puts Batman v Superman to task. Depending on what animated fare is being offered by Disney and Pixar this year, this one is a sure contender for Best Animated Feature. Whereas the first film was brighter, the filmmakers do a good job at depicting Batman’s classic environment.

Chris McKay directs from a screenplay written by Seth Grahame-Smith and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers and Jared Stern & John Whittington. The script is based story by Seth Grahame-Smith.

Arnett leads a cast that includes Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes.

This installment of Batman does poke fun at the previous Batman installments. This Batman wants to do things the lone vigilante way and without any help from others. Unfortunately for Batman, the Joker is trying to takeover Gotham as he feels like he’s not getting the recognition he deserves in the same way that Lex Luthor or General Zod do in their battles with Superman.

Joker leads a Rogues Gallery that includes a Harley Quinn (Jenny Slate), Scarecrow (Jason Mantzoukas),The Riddler (Conan O’Brien), Bane (Doug Benson), Two-Face (Billy Dee Williams), Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz), Clayface (Kate Micucci), and Poison Ivy (Riki Lindhome).

“It’s fun to take an iconic figure like Batman and play with the rules that have always been in place for him, to keep it consistent in terms of his being good at what he does and having that bravado and machismo, but play up his flaws and make him a little goofier without entirely losing his cool,” says Will Arnett. “That’s the kind of license we took originally, and then expanded on that to really get down to what makes Batman tick.”

All the Joker wants to hear from Batman is that he is the greatest enemy but Batman isn’t having any of it. As if his battles with the Joker are not enough, he must soon figure out how to act as a father figure to Dick Grayson, better known as Robin.

The central theme of the movie is to show how teamwork is better than going at it alone. This is something that Batman doesn’t realize until late in the movie as a full-scale battle takes place over Gotham featuring a load of villains from other movies.

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the animated movie opened on February 10, 2017 in 3D, 2D and IMAX.

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.

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