Movie #5 of 100: "The Lego Batman Movie"

Movie #5 of 100: “The Lego Batman Movie”

Overall Thoughts:

Everything about Will Arnett’s Lego Batman was cranked up to 11 in “The Lego Movie,” and in his own standalone film, the filmmakers only amplified the absurdity.

That, perhaps more than anything else, is what made this movie memorable for me. Instead of going the dark and brooding route for dramatic effect, the film made light of that idea in this movie, giving the character a bit of goofiness that worked well in the larger context of the Lego universe.

The movie also does a great job of not getting too bogged down in standard superhero tropes, and instead focuses on the real motivations that drive the characters involved. Why does Batman really refuse to allow anyone to help him, or get close to him? Why does the Joker continuously try to defeat Batman and destroy Gotham (and, why does he ALWAYS get away?)

The film tackles those questions and a whole lot more, and does so in really inventive ways that move beyond simple parody or spin-off techniques. It is an original piece of filmmaking that delivers the laughs and gives some good old-fashioned fun.

The various nods to other Batman films were also worthwhile, and the movie even features jokes about Batman’s “rivalry” with Superman for good measure. That willingness to poke fun at the Batman mythos, even as the live-action films are pushing in darker and darker directions for the Caped Crusader, is an essential part of the movie, and a welcome move back toward some of the campiness that made the Batman of the 1960’s and of the Tim Burton-era memorable.

Favorite Performance:

Will Arnett and Michael Cera, who played Robin in the film, shared some remarkable chemistry on-screen, but the show was really dominated by Zach Galifianakis, who turned in one of his better performances as the Joker.

Whereas the Joker has been pushed in even more psychotic directions thanks to Heath Ledger’s remarkable portrayal in “The Dark Knight,” Galifianakis’ turn in the role moved him back into a comedic role, but also explored the deeper emotions of the movie villain. It was a fascinating twist, and one that mined a lot of narrative gold as the movie went on.

Favorite Scene:

There were two scenes in the film that really stood out, and the first occurred within the first minutes as Batman encountered an entire Rogue’s Gallery of his greatest……and not so greatest enemies.

The homage to Batman’s history of villains was a top-notch nod to fans of the Dark Knight, including the appearance of little-known baddies like the Condiment King, whom I vaguely remembered from the Animated Series that was so popular in the 1990’s.

The other scene that stood out thanks to its complexity was the scene where Batman and Robin go to the Fortress of Solitude. During the scene, Batman finds out that the Justice League is hosting a massive party that he wasn’t invited to, and the mixture of awkward attempts at socializing, as well as his hilarious exit from the party, both made for a memorable mix of levity and sadness.

Stars: 3.5 out of 5 stars