Review of The Lego Batman Movie (2017) by Mack_Fraser — 19 Feb 2017

This fun and silly movie gets Batman more than any representation of Batman has since at least The Dark Knight. It has a deep understanding of the character's history, how he has been portrayed over the last 80 or so years, and how current Bat-fans tend to view the character.

However, this isn't some reverent awe-struck superhero flick. The Lego Batman Movie takes all of this and creates a spot-on meta commentary that mercilessly deconstructs The Bat, his fans, and his recent films.

This isn't really shocking given the MO of The Lego Movie and of Robot Chicken where director Chris McKay worked for years. What is surprising though is how the film uses all of this commentary and deconstruction as the basis for a plot with an actual emotional through-line that creates a convincing argument for how future Batfilms should move forward.

The film poses the bold idea that maybe Batman doesn't have to be a man-child wish fulfilment character still brooding over a trauma decades in the past, unable to connect with others. The film suggests that maybe he could be a fun character with friends who does what is right not for himself or to ease his own pain but instead to protect those he loves and because he loves his city.

Also, this film has surprisingly great action direction, a great voice cast and possibly the best score of 2017 so far. I guess what I'm saying here is, go check this thing out. It is totally worth your time, especially if you are a Batfan.

I'm giving it a 9 only because there is a slight sag in pacing right before the big climax but, in the grand scheme of things, it's a minor quibble in what is an otherwise superior film.