The LEGO Batman Movie Full Cast and CrewIn the irreverent spirit of fun that made THE LEGO MOVIE a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman – stars in his own big-screen adventure: THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up. THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE lands in Irish cinemas February 10, 2017.Film Title: The Lego Movie Phil Lord, Chris Miller Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Nick Offerman Running Time: 100 min Do you remember what you were doing when you first heard aboutFiling the notion alongside such disregarded projects as We stand humbly corrected. The film that industry analysts are citing as the earliest Oscar lock for 2015 (no, really) arrives with delirious reviews and delighted exit polls attached.
It’s an instant classic. The hype don’t lie. A thrilling, consistently funny, all-ages extravaganza, is virtually critic proof, in that we can’t find a darned thing wrong with it. It’s got laser sharks. The project’s theoretically cold, corporate, plastic heart – the movie is fashioned from LEGO® after all – is deftly offset by an anarchic, anti-authoritarian theme. Emmet (Chris Pratt) is an every-brick construction worker who finds himself at the heart of a vast conspiracy as orchestrated by President Business (Will Ferrell) and his evil, schizoid henchman, Bad Cop (Liam Neeson). Building a blockbuster brick by brick While monologuing, Bad Cop reveals the president’s plan to turn the “Kragle”, a super-WMD, on the denizens of Lego World. Enter an unlikely justice league featuring, for starters,a punk girl engineer Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), a cryptic wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), Batman (Will Arnett), Abraham Lincoln, Superman (Channing Tatum), Shakespeare, Wonder Woman (Cobie Smulders) and Shaquille O’Neal.
The best jokes make use of the physical limitations of small plastic bricks. The screenplay, by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller ( Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ), utilises pop culture without the unnecessary snark. The music Batman has written for his girlfriend and the continuing unpopularity of the Green Lantern (Jonah Hill) work as comic book references and perfectly crafted standalone gags for the DC ignorant. Mark Mothersbaugh’s score is as clever and playful as anything he’s ever done (and that’s saying something). The lighting is impeccable. The action sequences are convincing and plentiful. And just when you think the film can’t get any more awesome, there’s a devilishly Brechtian flourish. Nicholas Stoller, Doug Sweetland Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Kelsey Grammer, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Jennifer Aniston, Ty Burrell, Danny Trejo, Stephen Kramer Glickman Running Time: 87 min Is it wrong for a grown-up critic to get pernickety over the logic of a universe wherein talking birds are major players in global parcel delivery?
Well, if questioning the cartoon fowls is wrong, I don’t want to be right. As Storks opens, the feathered waders have, under the guidance of hawkish chief executive Hunter (Grammer, in fine, bellowing form, quit the baby-delivering game to focus on parcels. A series of misadventures brings the heroic Junior (Andy Samberg) and his bumbling human sidekick Tulip (Katie Crown) accidentally back into the baby distribution business. Will the mismatched pair make it across the tundra without Hunter finding out? And will Nate, the lonely son of busy estate agents (Ty Burrell and Jennifer Aniston), ever receive the ninja sibling he wished for? Viceroy’s House review: ludicrous opulence and class distinctions - perfect for Downton fans Tomato Red review: A hard-boiled trailer-park tragedy Lost in France review: a sepia-toned love-letter to Chemikal Underground In Loco Parentis - a look at life in Ireland’s only primary-age boarding school Certain Women review: a sorrowful tour de force from director Kelly Reichardt
So far, so convoluted. But here’s the rub. If storks haven’t been delivering babies for years, then shouldn’t the human world resemble the one in Children of Men? How has all the reproduction occurred in their absence? And if humans don’t need storks to deliver babies, then what is the point of all this? Working alongside former Pixar animator Doug Sweetland, Nicholas Stoller (the writer-director behind Get Him to the Greek and Bad Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising) can’t untangle the film’s messy mythology, but he can add plenty of incident and a few zingers. Samberg and Crown make for an excellent, snappy bickering duo, and a great supporting voice cast includes Danny Trejo as Tulip’s crazed pursuer. Commendably, the animation is not afraid to be just that. The appearance of a 100-strong wolf pack who arrange themselves into increasingly surreal shapes – suspension bridge, submarine – makes a welcome change from the odd, counterintuitive realism that governs most contemporary animated features.
Still, we expected better from the studio that gave us The Lego Movie. Rather worrying, Storks is preceeded by The Master, a disappointing five-minute short based on Lego’s Ninjago line. The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie are due next year. Social Sightings: Irish Premiere of The Lego Batman Movie Kerri Nicole Blanc at the Irish premiere screening of The Lego Batman Movie at the Odeon Point Village, Dublin. Susan Ryan and Kat Doyle at the Irish premiere screening of The Lego Batman Movie at the Odeon Point Village, Dublin. Norman Pratt and Shane Morgan at the Irish premiere screening of The Lego Batman Movie at the Odeon Point Village, Dublin. Roisin Tierney Crowe is pictured with Odhran O'Kelly and Sean O'Kelly at the Irish premiere screening of The Lego Batman Movie at the Odeon Point Village, Dublin. Kerrie Nicole Blanc at the Irish premiere screening of The Lego Batman Movie at the Odeon Point Village, Dublin. Niamh Durcan at the Irish premiere screening of The Lego Batman Movie at the Odeon Point Village, Dublin.
Debbie O'Donnell and her son Sam Carroll at the Irish premiere screening of The Lego Batman Movie at the Odeon Point Village, Dublin. Kerri Nicole Blanc and Kayla Blanc at the Irish premiere screening of The Lego Batman Movie at the Odeon Point Village, Dublin. Some of Ireland's tiniest movie buffs enjoyed a preview of The Lego Batman movie at the Odeon Cinema in the Point Village with their well-known parents. Boxer Bernard Dunne and son Finnian, model Kerri Nicole Blanc and her daughter Kayla were among those pictured at the sweet screening. Whiskey lovers gathered at Kilkenny's new Medieval Mile Museum to celebrate the launch of The Kilkenny Whiskey Guild. Guests were treated to an evening of cocktails, canapes, live performances and of course - whiskey tasting. Pictures: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland Confirmed: World's largest passenger plane set to land in Dublin Serial rapist on streets of Dublin after being bailed a second time WATCH: Donegal surfer shortlisted for riding this monster wave in Ireland
Cork is in the process of being transformed into a real rival to the capital Seven surprising health benefits of having more sex Trump's Attorney General Jeff Sessions 'met twice with Russian ambassador during campaign' Varadkar rows in behind leadership rival in rejecting FF call to scrap water bills Teen who 'had to appear on TV twice' to get vital op scheduled has surgery delayed Closing down debate on sensitive issues poses a danger to society Social Sightings: Launch of Kilkenny Whiskey Guild at... Whiskey lovers gathered at Kilkenny's new Medieval Mile Museum... All the action at Paris Fashion Week LA Premiere of Feud: Bette and Joan 14 Best and Worst Dressed at the Costume Designers Guild... Who wore what (and... In Pictures: Irish stars light up red carpet at annual IFTA TV... Social Sightings: Launch of Kilkenny Whiskey Guild at Medieval Mile Museum Whiskey lovers gathered at Kilkenny's new... Irish premiere of A Handsome Devil at the Audi Dublin Film Festival