Holy franchise, Batman! After the success of the original “The Lego Movie” in 2014, the DC comic company has decided to stake its claim in the Lego world.
With a basic knowledge of the Batman storyline, and with the humorous nature of the previous Lego productions in mind, I was skeptical at best to see how this film would be able to encapsulate this hero’s 78 year history in under 2 hours. To my surprise, I was impressed with the amount of references that were included, as well as the new humor introduced for a young audience.
For the majority of the introduction, the viewers join Batman (Will Arnett) as he goes about his solitary life in Wayne Manor. We can all relate as he saunters through the halls singing to himself or when he presses the zero one too many times on the microwave. On the other side of relatable however, we see the vigilante battle loneliness and sadness as he gazes at old family photos.
As he continues going about his routine, he is constantly distracted by the photos of his family which met their demise at the hand of a robber. The longing he feels for a family is eventually satisfied when Wayne accidentally adopts orphan Dick Grayson (Michael Cera). This hilarious scene perfectly illustrates how the movie follows the original Batman story while adding humorous and amusing twists.
The plot moves fast throughout to keep viewers of all ages interested. The flashy costumes and strong diverse characters allow the audience to connect with the cast. For the older crowd, references to previous DC ventures and a slew of iconic villains like Sauron and the “Doctor Who” Daleks allow the adults to follow a slightly different, but equally entertaining plotline.
Along with the fan-oriented references, the movie has a lot to offer in the way of a meaningful story as well. With the budding “bromance” between Bruce Wayne and the Joker and the emphasis on a platonic working relationship with Batgirl, the movie also touches on the importance of family and caring about others.
Batgirl (Rosario Dawson) herself was an integral character to the story and allowed a strong and positive role model for little girls in the audience. This portrayal of Barbara Gordon was confident, resilient and ready to face any challenge despite scrutiny from her male counterparts.
Having left its more serious predecessors in its dust, “The Lego Batman Movie” incorporates countless aspects of the franchise’s history throughout. From the shark repellent of 1966 to the lesser appreciated rivalry with Superman just last year, not only does the movie honor the history of Batman, it pokes fun at its eccentricity as well.
Overall, this movie is a fantastic merger between the sinister Wayne of the live action films and the campy humor of the 1960s and animated series. For fans of all ages and interests, “The Lego Batman Movie” is sure to make even the most serious movie buffs smile.
