It’s a question that has perplexed Batman villains since at least 1989: “Where does he get those wonderful toys?” Finally, we have an answer. The one a few blocks from Warner Bros.’ New York offices currently sells at least eight different LEGO Batman sets, all of which appear in various forms in The LEGO Batman Movie. The film is, like The LEGO Movie before it, a feature-length toy commercial — and, like The LEGO Movie before it, The LEGO Batman Movie is far more entertaining than a giant piece of crass commercialism has any right to be. Through its first two films, the LEGO Cinematic Universe has a developed a unique and likable house style: Charmingly clunky animation, irreverent humor, and chaotic stories that seem inspired by children’s playtime logic. In The LEGO Batman Movie, the endless war between Batman (Will Arnett) and the Joker (Zach Galifianakis) takes an unexpected turn after the Clown Prince of Crime, heartbroken after the Dark Knight insists he doesn’t need him to be a fulfilled crimefighter, turns himself into police, along with the rest of the Gotham City Rogues Gallery.
For some reason, this convinces Batman that he needs to steal Superman’s Phantom Zone Projector and then use it to send Joker to the Phantom Zone. Why did I have the Real Ghostbusters try to capture the Ninja Turtles instead of working with them to defeat Hulk Hogan and He-Man when I was eight years old? Kids do weird things with their toys, and so does The LEGO Batman Movie director Chris McKay with his. The LEGO Batman Movie has a similarly anarchic attitude (not to mention a charming disregard for the traditional rules of intellectual property). That doesn’t always make for the most emotionally gripping story, but it does give LEGO Batman an unpredictable energy that carries the film through some of its less coherent portions. This particular Batman — grotesquely arrogant, absurdly dark and gritty — debuted as a supporting player in The LEGO Movie, where he was allowed to serve as a one-dimensional (but hysterically funny) comic foil to the main characters. As the protagonist of his own spinoff, LEGO Batman now has to carry an emotional arc and learn some valuable lessons about the importance of family, selflessness, and teamwork.
This is both a lovely message for children and a very quick way to make LEGO Batman a lot less amusing. Arnett’s performance as this mega-aggro Batman is still a hoot, but this time the scene stealer is Ralph Fiennes’ exceedingly dry version of Batman’s loyal butler Alfred. Michael Cera also makes a fun Robin, infused with the same gee-whiz attitude that Burt Ward brought to the role more than 50 years earlier. (The film takes more cues from the ’60s Batman than any movie since Batman & Robin.) The cast list is impressive from top to bottom, although some of the actors (most obviously Galifianakis as the Joker) struggle to step out of the very large shadow cast by the great vocal talents who’ve previously brought the Caped Crusader’s animated adventures to life. One random Gymkata joke aside, the script, credited to five different writers, isn’t quite a sharp as it could be. There’s a heavy emphasis on inside jokes and Easter eggs; non-Batman aficionados — like, say, someone who doesn’t understand why Robin putting on a costume labeled “Nightwing” is not just an Easter egg, but a double Easter egg — are going to miss a significant portion of the fun.
Kudos, though, to the film and its creators for being willing to poke fun at themselves and at Batman himself, particularly in his recent incarnations. There are several jabs at Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and one particularly snarky nod to Suicide Squad and its questionable storyline. There’s even a winking reference to the Joker’s “wonderful toys” line from 1989’s Batman. A list of all the Easter eggs in the movie would run dozens of entries. Just about the only famous Batman moment that doesn’t get a callback is The Dark Knight Joker’s signature quip, “Why so serious?” In this film, it wouldn’t make any sense.The LEGO Group and Warner Bros. are two-for-two when it comes to big-screen team ups. After the LEGO Movie blew movie goers away with it’s irreverent mix of comedy and imagination, that film’s breakout character returned with his own solo film in this year’s the LEGO Batman Movie. And while that movie was great in its own right—maybe even the BEST Batman movie EVER—fans might be wondering where the LEGO Movie Sequel is.
It was set to be released in May this year, but that was bumped for Batman and now we have the LEGO Ninjago Movie on the way. Sure, that first trailer is funny, but some want to find out what’s next for Emmet, Wyldstyle, and President Business in their battle against baby sisters and Duplo blocks. WATCH: The BvS Warehouse Fight Mashed Up With LEGO Batman Song The LEGO Batman Movie director Chris McKay recently spoke about the original film’s sequel while appearing on the Shanlian on Batman podcast. McKay—who was also named to be directing the forthcoming Nightwing film—revealed some interesting details about the film that might make it differ from its predecessor. “LEGO 2 is going to be this big musical and space action movie,” McKay said. “They need a lot of the writing, a lot of development, not only with script development, but development with songwriters. So it was very ambitious to get that movie out.”While the first LEGO film featured an original song, it seems like the sequel will up the ante and wade into Disney territory.
Hopefully it remains the tone and humor of the original film. They might not be able to achieve a twist like in the climax of the LEGO Movie, but so long as they continue to push the envelope it should be entertaining. For now, we can be happy with “Who’s the (Bat)Man” from the LEGO Batman Movie, in theaters now. Are you excited to see another entry in the main LEGO Movie line? Let us know by voting to participate in our Anticipation Ranking! The LEGO Movie Sequel More LEGO Batman Movie: Zack Snyder Shows Off His LEGO Batman Love / Review / Is There A Post-Credits Scene? / Every Batman Villain In The Movie “You ready for me to conquer Ninjago? Oh I’ll be waiting.” Warner Bros has dropped the first full trailer for The Lego Ninjago Movie with the legendary as Sensei Wu. Based on the line of Lego construction sets, The Lego Ninjago Movie directed by Charlie Bean in his feature debut, follows Lloyd, member of a group of young warriors and Lego master builders who, with their kung fu master Wu, must defend Ninjago City against the evil warlord Garmadon.
Complicating matters is the fact that Garmadon happens to be Lloyd’s father. With mech fighting mech and father fighting son, the undisciplined team of modern-day ninjas will learn to check their egos and pull together to save the city. Along with Chan, the pic stars Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson, Olivia Munn, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Peña and Zach Woods. Franco is Lloyd, and Theroux voices Garmadon. Rounding out the cast of characters are Munn as Lloyd’s mother, with Armisen, Jacobson, Nanjiani, Peña and Woods voicing the rest of Lloyd’s secret ninja team. Tom & Bill Wheeler rewrote the script originally penned by Hilary Winston & Bob Logan & Paul Fisher from a story by Kevin Hageman & Dan Hageman and Winston, Logan and Fisher. The Lego Movie team of Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Roy Lee are producing, with Jill Wilfert, Chris McKay, Seth Grahame-Smith, and Keith Malone executive producing. Warner Bros will distribute worldwide.