The LEGO Batman Movie

Remember the best thing about The LEGO Movie? No, not Everything Is Awesome (but, yes, that was awesome) but the real scene stealer? Chris Pratt did an able job of carrying the movie it was Will Arnett’s perfect gravel voiced pastiche of the Caped Crusader who was the unique selling point. So thankfully The LEGO Batman Movie is everything you would hope for.

Because while Ben Affleck is trying to out growl Christian Bale the modern iteration of Batman is a dark and brooding character. And as cool as Bale’s Batman was it was always, well, a bit of a downer. And so, with the help of tiny little bricks LEGO Batman is here to put a bit of fun, okay, A LOT of fun into The Dark Knight. Although for the record this is anything but Dark so we should probably call him The Technicoloured Knight from hereon in.

Let’s make one thing clear, The LEGO Movie was essentially the best toy advert ever made. Yes, that’s not hard when the competition is Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but it was still a toy commercial. If anything LEGO Batman is even more so – because, you know, they’re pimping superheroes AND LEGO – but it does so with the LEGO Movie’s meta times infinity.  

The film takes a pop at its rivals, “Iron Man sucks”, it’s siblings, “Yeah, we’re going to send a bunch of bad guys to take on other bad guys, that’s a great idea” *slowly turns to Suicide Squad* and pretty much every big blockbuster of the past ten to twenty years. You get Agent Smith from The Matrix, Daleks, Lord Voldemort – voiced by Eddie Izzard because the real Voldemort Ralph Fiennes is too busy voicing Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred – even King Kong and Lord Sauron make an appearance.

And if all this sounds familiar meta it’s in no small part because two of the many writers of the film are from the king of meta shows Community. And if you like the humour there you’re in for a genuine treat. Of course this being a LEGO movie there’s also a lot for the kids. You know, lots of action, cute characters, (intentionally) tacky songs and a strong moral message; family is better than going it alone, and loving your archenemy is probably a good thing.

Buckle up, strap in, if you’re at home remove your trousers (what? Batman does) and bask in the brilliance of one of the most all-out fun movies in a long time. The LEGO Batman Movie is a crime fighting, toy building, box office behemoth that is thick on Jokers and Caped Crusading in perfect harmony.