ANIMATION | 'The Lego Batman Movie'
Everything is awesome. Or is it?
That is the million-dollar question with ‘The Lego Batman Movie’, the successor of the well received and surprise hit, ‘The Lego Movie’.
‘The Lego Batman Movie’ follows Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) and his deeds in protecting his home city Gotham from countless foes; however, Batman’s daily life quickly changes when he adopts a young orphan named Dick Grayson.
Starring Will Arnett, Rosario Dawson, Michael Cera, Ralph Fiennes and Zach Galifianakis, ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ replicates the same vibe as its predecessor, yet appears to fall short of hitting the same success.
Arnett stars as the eponymous character, who deals with the mundane and repetitive nature of being Gotham’s lonely hero; this all changes when Commissioner Gordon retires and his go-getter daughter Barbara (played by Dawson) replaces him as Commissioner.
Barbara Gordon is on a quest to reign in Gotham’s hero to work alongside the Police Force, much to Batman’s dismay. But that is not Batman’s only concern, as there is also the matter of dealing with his new adopted, hyperactive son, Dick (Cera). Now add to that the very sour villain, Joker (Galifianakis) who simply just wants Batman to recognise him as Batman’s greatest villain.
If the plot has anything to show, ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ is chaotic and fun in all the right ways. The film holds up to its predecessor by maintaining great fluid animation, screen writing and strong talented voice acting.
Animal Logic, the original animation studio for ‘The Lego Movie’, returns for this installment, and once again, they do not disappoint. The animation is top notch, maintaining the aesthetics of the Lego product while ensuring fluid and believable animation. The film is vibrant and is definitely a feast for the eyes.
Fun, yet not entirely nonsensical, this is a movie for all audiences. The screenwriters have done a great job of ensuring that the script is accessible and enjoyable for many filmgoers. The writing definitely doesn’t disappoint, with the dialogue being the standout feature. The dialogue is well constructed and older audiences with pop culture knowledge will appreciate the numerous comic, book and film references throughout the film.
Although the dialogue is the standout, that is not to say that the rest of the script is lacking. Although masked as an action animated film, there is a strong focus on the characters and their relationships with each other. The interactions between characters are meaningful as well as entertaining; the movie has heart and should definitely be applauded for it.
Along with a fantastic script, the voice acting also packs quite a punch. The actors have done a stellar job and fit the bill perfectly for their respective characters. Arnett does a great Batman impression, clearly channeling Christian Bale’s Batman, while Cera expertly brings about the innocence and naivety of Dick Grayson to the screen.
While the script is the film’s strongest suit, this could affect its longevity. Many references used throughout are relevant to viewers today, but if watched down the track, are likely to fall flat. The film runs the risk of becoming outdated, but for now, it is a great film for geeks and families alike.
‘The Lego Batman Movie’ has many great things going for it, but may fail to leave a standout impression on audiences. It is unfortunately the weaker of the two ‘Lego’ films, but perhaps this could be attributed to the fact that ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ had a lot to live up to.
Initially released in the US and the UK on the 10th of February, Australia’s release was delayed, hitting cinemas on March 30th.
A fun and all-round humorous movie, it is definitely worth checking out. ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ is a solid animation, highly recommended for families.
