THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Review

The most unexpected of cinematic universe's to be born from this current trend is no doubt this massive LEGO franchise, but behind the trailblazer that is Marvel it is LEGO that seems to be having the most success in carving their own path out of a recognizable brand. Granted, we're now only two movies in with a third on the way this fall, but the point is there seems no sign that this train will be slowing down anytime soon. After absolutely blowing all expectations out of the water with The LEGO Movie directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, 21 & 22 Jump Street) set not only a precedent for any sequels and spin offs that might come in the wake of their success, but they also set a very specific tone that will seemingly serve as the signature trait of this movie universe as The LEGO Batman Movie is just as irreverent as could be expected when it comes to this toy brands take on the dark and brooding titular hero. With the self-aware and spoof-like nature of that initial LEGO outing being paired with a character as established in the pop culture mythos as Batman there is plenty of opportunity for lampooning and lampoon is exactly what director Chris McKay (Robot Chicken) does best. Beginning even before the studio logos hit the screen The LEGO Batman Movie is ready to ridicule and criticize everything about the previous phases in our hero's career while pulling off that oh so critical tone of it being all in good fun. Never does it feel as if The LEGO Batman Movie is taking pot shots at any of the other imaginings or interpretations of the Dark Knight character, but rather McKay is offering comically tinged observations on what makes a grown man running around in a Halloween costume feel so serious when, in layman's terms, the reasons as to why as much is laughable should be obvious. Reprising his role from The LEGO Movie Will Arnett is once again the very self-serious caped crusader who loves being Batman and who expects everyone else to love him because he's Batman. Arnett's take on the character is essentially this raving egomaniac who has to constantly keep up this facade he's built around himself. Pairing this type of Batman with a cavalcade of other characters and villains from the his universe as well as countless other Warner Bros. properties McKay exploits every avenue he can in order to display as much comedy and action on screen as he does merchandise.

New Trailer for THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

With Comic-Con going strong and Warner Bros. dropping no less than five big trailers today it was inevitable that we'd also get a look at the spin-off of 2014's massive hit The Lego Movie that stars one of Comic-Con's brightest: Batman. While we were lucky enough to get a glimpse of what Ben Affleck's Dark Knight might be up to in Zack Snyder's Justice League film with The Lego Batman Movie Will Arnett reprises his role as the caped crusader in the form of interlocking plastic blocks to give audiences a lighter side of the iconic character. Directed by Chris McKay who was an assistant director on The Lego Movie and has worked on several animated series in the past (including Robot Chicken) the guy clearly has a handle on the tone and style that Phil Lord and Chris Miller established in the original Lego film. In this extended look at the film McKay and writer Seth Grahame-Smith (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) offer their take on Batman as a parent and their version on how the young, what I'm assuming is still Dick Grayson, comes to be the Boy Wonder himself, Robin (voiced by Michael Cera). We also get a first look at Zach Galifianakis playing The Joker which I'm probably more excited about than I should be with the film also looking to beat Zack Snyder's team-up movie to the punch as we get a glimpse of a hero shot with Batman leading the charge surrounded by super friends Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Cyborg, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Green Arrow. All of that said the most important part of the trailer is that it is consistently funny and seems to be keeping up quite nicely with the irreverent tone The Lego Movie so effortlessly pulled off. The LEGO Batman Movie also stars Rosario Dawson as Batgirl/Barbara Gordon, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred, Mariah Carey as the Mayor of Gotham, and opens on February 10th, 2017.

First Trailer for THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

With it being the eve of the release of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice it is only necessary we get a look at the next feature film that will star the caped crusader. No, not The Justice League film slated for November of next year, but rather the spin-off of the highly successful 2014 film, The Lego Movie. With The Lego Batman Movie Will Arnett reprises his role as the dark knight in interlocking plastic block form to give audiences the lighter side of what Ben Affleck seems to be delivering in his current big screen iteration. Directed by Chris McKay who was an assistant director on The Lego Movie and has worked on several animated series in the past (including Robot Chicken) the guy clearly has a handle on the tone and style that Phil Lord and Chris Miller established in the original Lego film. In this first look at the film McKay and writer Seth Grahame-Smith (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) offer their take on the more monotonous aspects of being Batman such as fighting crime Every. Day. despite the fact you're fighting crime Every. Day. with the only reward being coming home to heat up Lobster Thermidor in the microwave. The film looks to beat Zack Snyder's team-up movie to the punch as we get a glimpse of a hero shot with Batman leading the charge surrounded by super friends Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Cyborg, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Green Arrow, but we also know that the film will likely center on a very Batman-esque storyline given Michael Cera will voice Robin, Rosario Dawson is Batgirl/Barbara Gordon, with Zach Galifianakis playing The Joker, and Ralph Fiennes and Mariah Carey enlisted to voice Alfred and the Mayor of Gotham, respectively. The Lego Batman Movie opens on February 10th, 2017.