Before we go further, I should probably emphasize a few things since this is both the first new post I’ve done in months and also the first time I’ve covered anything new since expanding to the blogspace. These are largely written on the assumption you’re familiar with the work in question. Less review and more editorial or retrospective.
Which is to say: be warned that I do tend to talk about specific scenes or plot resolutions if they help me explain a particular observation or emphasize the theme or atmosphere of the thing. If you’re here for the thumbs up/down, it’s good, go watch.
So back to Mr. Schumacher. It’s sometimes said that Batman Forever/Batman and Robin were trying to be campy silver age Batman. But I’m not sure that’s entirely right- they still used a lot of the designs of the Burton movies, and you don’t go for pure camp but include the modern characterization for Mr. Freeze. So instead I think the intent was to capture the full breadth of Batman. It’s a worthy goal, and while Schumacher is basically a talentless hack, the Lego Movie folk are equal to the task. And while some of it is purely for humor, especially the multi-layered fourth wall awareness and occasional add in of live-action film footage, they definitely had things to say about the State of the Bat.
I mean, the Joker goes on a whole rampage on what amounts to a jilted lover plot. But this is set up by him insisting that he’s Batman’s arch nemesis, the one that pushes him to excel, while Batman… claims his arch enemy is Superman. Which makes sense for the superbly self-important Lego Batman, while also being an easy jab at BvS while also being a much slyer hint at what the movie was building to.
(Sidebar: Props to the trailer team on this one. They actually managed to show this, sorta the pivotal point the movie turns on, but recontexualized it into a joke rather than suggesting in any way this was the point at which the plot is set in motion.)
But being a kid’s movie Batman is what really works here, because it prompted them to do something nobody else has ever really done that I’m aware of in adaptations of Batman; focused on the importance of the Bat-Family and how they fit into the greater story of Batman and his rogues. And unto itself I like that for the novelty, and I think something I’ve always kinda wanted to see done justice. But this gives them a bit of that sly commentary again: Batman by himself isn’t much. He’s motivated by his past, sure, but the toys and money and trauma aren’t really very interesting past a big shiny opening number. Batman lives and dies by his supporting cast and his rogues. You can only tell so many Batman stories without them, yet every time they go back to the well, that’s where they start. And since they acknowledge all those phases of his life, you know exactly what they mean.
Although no mistake, the movie is funny and clever without all that. Batman talking Robin through the deadly Kryptonian defenses or standing back to back in order to hit enemies “so hard words describing the sound pop up”? Those are the times you’re reminded this is also a sorta sequel. Well, that and the opening scene where they really put that love and care into the faux stop motion animation. That’s also cool.
It’s kinda weird to who they consider the super bad guys. Until I remembered oh yeah, it’s Warner Bros, they have super duper rights to some of those. Definitely gave it that crossover vibe the Lego Movie had too.
Rating- 8/10. It has a much stronger start than finish, but yeah, all sorts of good going on here.
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