Will Arnett Solidifies Himself as a Sure-Fire Batman in the Awesome Animated Follow-Up "The Lego Batman Movie"

   I'm just gonna say it right off the top. People, go see The Lego Batman Movie! It's brilliantly funny and probably one of the better solo Batman movies to date! No, seriously, the genius minds behind The Lego Movie have returned to expand the franchise (which will get even bigger in September with The Lego Ninjago Movie) and they've delivered a wonderful movie that hits all the right notes. There was a time in the early 2000s where the parody genre seemed to find its niche. Movies like Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, and the Scary Movie franchise spoofed not only their real movie counterparts, but pop culture as well. However, a lot of these movies focused on the gimmick of their existence, packing in joke after joke and cameo after cameo in order to attain relevant laughs. What the Lego movies have done, and what they possibly can do in the future, is deliver not only a joke-filled spoof that pokes fun at certain tropes, but they also place story and character in their proper place of importance. The Lego Movie was equally heartfelt as it was hilarious, and The Lego Batman Movie is not different. There are rumors that a Star Wars spoof is coming our way, made in the same vein as the parody films of old. I think if they were to do The Lego Star Wars Movie, that would be an amazing parody. Anyway, I digress. Back to Batman!

   From the opening credits through the catchy pop number at the end, The Lego Batman Movie is everything you want it to be. Not only that, but it actually has a really important message about family and overcoming crippling fears of loneliness. Essentially, the movie follows Batman as he basks in the glory of being Gotham's unstoppable and most beloved vigilante, while deep down he struggles with being alone, fearing the vulnerability it would take to open up to the idea of being a part of a family again. Sounds deep right? Well, don't worry, the movie does a great job at balancing the humor and story. The running theme of Batman's relationship with Joker is genius and gut-bustingly funny, and serves as a driving force for the plot. The movie is jammed full of pop culture references, subversive superhero humor, fantastic action sequences and pain-stakingly funny cameos that are so meta it hurts...in a good way.

   The highlight of this film is the cast. Will Arnett will forever be recognized among the honorable list of men who have donned the cape and cowl: West. Keaton. Kilmer. Clooney. Bale. Affleck. Arnett. Will Arnett's Batman was one of the best characters in The Lego Movie, so to have this film be the first follow up to that smash hit (which by all accounts shouldn't have worked if you look at it on paper, but still holds up as one of the best animated movies ever) makes total sense. Arnett's Batman is somewhat of a parody of Bale's I would think, but he's got a bit of all of them inside. It's never grating or annoying, and when you mix the gravely voice and overconfidence with the awesome writing, you get some of the funniest lines ever heard from Batman. Michael Cera plays a Carrie Kelly-looking Robin/orphan adopted by Bruce Wayne and he's so innocent and awkward, making for a great contrast to the brooding and self-centered Batman. Ralph Fiennes plays Alfred (which is funny because Voldemort is in the movie) and does so with the refined aspects we love in Alfred while also being an action-packed character. Rosario Dawson plays Barbara Gordon/Batgirl and is a formidable counterpart that equally rivals Batman.

   Let's not forget the surprisingly refreshing standout, besides Arnett. Zack Galifianakis plays the Joker and he is awesome. He's not only a compelling villain, but Galifianakis' performance almost manages to thankfully wash away the funky aftertaste of Jared Leto's Joker, despite whether you liked that version or not. Galifianakis' version of The Joker is much more emotional than expected, but in an extremely clever way that highlights the 70+ years of animosity between him and Batman. While his plans to destroy Gotham aren't entirely original, the execution of the animation makes up for it. Across the board, I think this was the first animated movie I could think of that I wasn't trying to listen and pinpoint who was voicing what character. I was so invested in the characters, the story and the beautiful animation that as the credits rolled and I read the cast list I was generally surprised at some of the names mentioned.

   The thing about these Lego movies so far that I can now say is a sure-fire constant is the stunning animation. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the animation in this movie is truly breath-taking. This movie is just simply gorgeous to look at, and the animation feels like a healthy mix of stop-animation and CGI, much like The Lego Movie did. Also, the cinematography is really well-done. It's very cinematic, giving it that larger-than-life feel that a lot of animated features lack. Lego bricks and Lego figures are pretty limiting, if you've every played with them. The animators do such a great job at showing range, mobility, and emotion, giving the figures such depth. Most of the time Batman is always wearing his cowl, and yet he is able to emote enough for you as an audience member to understand and relate to, which is great.

   With how big of a success The Lego Movie was, I'm not surprised to see such a quality piece of art in The Lego Batman Movie. Is it as good as its predecessor? I would say no? But only by like a hair. They are very much the same, but equally different. Kids will lose their minds with this movie, and I think there's enough in there for adults to lose their minds, too. I LOVED this movie. I found it clever, beautiful, stunning, and a great tribute to one of the most iconic characters in history. It makes me excited to see what's next. The level of meta-humor and stunning visuals lends itself to infinite possibilities.