Many movies about Gotham City’s Caped Crusader have been made throughout the years, but the recently released LEGO Batman is arguably the best one yet. Will Arnett reprises his role from The LEGO Movie (2014), joined by Rosario Dawson, Michael Cera and Ralph Fiennes. Simultaneously encompassing both the stale angst so inherent to Batman films and the canon ‘campness’ of the genre so many fans seem to forget, the movie pokes fun at Batman’s ‘lone wolf’ shtick, as well as his clear preference for one side of his dual identity.
His infamous rivalry with his arch-nemesis, the Joker (Zach Galifinakis), becomes the plot of the movie by turning it into a hilarious rom-com complete with heartache, betrayal, villainous support systems and a lot of needlessly complicated bombs. An important side story becomes Batman’s acceptance of lovable and clueless orphan Dick Grayson (Cera), beautiful and kick-ass police commissioner Barbara Gordon (Dawson), and sassy and steadfast butler Alfred Pennyworth (Fiennes) into his newly formed family.
The film features appearances by many members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery, from well-known evildoers like Two-Face, the Penguin, Catwoman and Scarecrow to C-List wannabes like Polka-Dot Man, Calendar Man and Condiment King. Cameos of major villains of movie history run rampant throughout the film, starring such names and faces as Superman, the Flash, Voldemort, Godzilla, Sauron, King Kong, Daleks and gremlins. Such references also lead to one of the funniest lines in the movie – Batman’s password to his bat cave is IRON MAN SUCKS.
Having brought a new take on what is becoming a tired trope of a character, LEGO Batman will remain a beacon of priceless humor in an increasingly Dark Knight.
Niagara Wire 