K-SCORE: 70
Director: Chris McKay
Writer: Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Eric Sommers, Jared Stern, John Whittington
Starring: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Ralph Fiennes, Rosario Dawson, Zach Galifianakis, Jenny Slate, Hector Elizondo, Maria Carey, Eddie Izzard, Seth Green, Jemaine Clement, Billy Dee Williams, Conan O’Brien, Jason Mantzoukas, Zoe Kravitz, Kate Micucci, Doug Benson, Jonah Hill, Adam Devine, Tatum, Apple advertisements
Spoiler Level: Minor
Despite the charm of The Lego Movie, I didn’t think the style or conflict-potential would transfer over to an entire film starring Lego Batman. But The Lego Batman Movie works. It’s funny for adults and I imagine for children as well, though rarely at the same time, and some of its cinema satire/references even make it a little innovative. It has the problem that its animation moves really swiftly while its plot jogs along and the entirety of its thematic work (Batman needs friends and a family) crawls at a snail’s pace. But I get why it has to do that. They don’t want a huge amount of depth and complexity, even it if makes someone like me a little bored.
“somehow not tipping completely into just satire or just a blockbuster”
What I really enjoyed was the way the film accepted all the iterations of Batman and threw this one together as if it somehow fits in the messy, obviously disjointed, conglomerate of Batman stories. Punching people so hard words describing the impact appear next to the characters, that time with the two boats, costumes for every franchise - there are even references to shark repellent spray! It’s great. And Will Arnett’s performance is wonderful at walking that line Lego movies must walk, somehow not tipping completely into just satire or just a blockbuster.
The worst aspect of The Lego Batman Movie is the worst aspect of all movies starring Zach Galifianakis - Zach Galifianakis. As The Joker, this is the closest he comes to fully exemplifying the ass clown we know him to be. The man seems equally incapable of drama and comedy, yet tries for both simultaneously and lands squarely and securely in the camp of annoying. Why cast him? Clearly they can get anyone to do any voice-acting work. Look at how many celebrities are in this! I think if I had $500 and a phone number I could get Zach Galifianakis to read this review aloud and then post the audio file alongside it. But I wouldn’t because I think he would even screw up the inherent humor behind him reading a, let’s be honest, completely unfair and vicious attack on his career and personhood. That stupid son of a bitch.
Uh… The Lego Batman Movie - good. Good for kids.