The Lego Batman Movie: The 'vain' knight returns

The Lego Batman Movie showcases the narcissistic side of Batman, writes Kakoli Chakraborty

From Lewis Wilson, the first actor to play the caped crusader on screen, to Adam West and Ben Affleck, Batman has transformed dramatically over the years. And though a superhero comic aimed at children, the Batman universe is now darker than ever. So, the The Lego Batman Movie comes as a breath of fresh air.

After the success of The Lego Movie with the catchy theme “Everything is awesome”, it’s not a surprise they’re back with a spin-off instalment featuring everyone’s favourite (Superman fans will surely protest) superhero. 

Set in the universe made up of Lego bricks, that is captivating to say the least, the film revolves around Batman and his efforts to foil the Joker’s plans. The film looks straight out of a child’s imagination when he’s left to his own devices with a bunch of Lego bricks and it’s mesmerising. In fact, adults who have an affinity for these building blocks are sure to be filled with the nagging impulse of buying some of their own once the film ends. 

The film is a satire and even Batman isn’t spared. Will Arnett and his raspy voice reprises his role as Batman in the film (he played the dark knight in The Lego Movie as well). The brooding superhero is more of a narcissist in this film as he fights a horde of villains led by the maniacal Joker (voiced by Zach Galifianakis). 

In this film, Joker has a secret side; under the villainy exterior, he hides a sensitive, delicate core that just wants Batman to give him some attention. Like all other Batman films, this one, too, is set in Gotham City, but this time around Batman’s helpful aide Commissioner Gordon has retired making way for his daughter Barbara (Rosario Dawson), who thinks Batman is just a masked loony who karate-chops the poor. 

Batman, ironically, seems okay with the idea of theft. Having had enough of his nemesis, he decides to banish Joker to the Phantom Zone, a prison for dangerous villains of not just the Batman universe but also of the entire Lego universe. In order to do that, he has to steal the Phantom Zone Projector owned by Superman. He is interrupted by Alfred (voiced by Ralph Fiennes) who asks him to take Dick Grayson (Michael Cera) under his ‘bat’wing. Dick, now trained as Robin, helps Batman to steal the projector and the pair use it on Joker to banish him. 

But as Barbara arrests the masked duo for their recklessness, it dawns on Batman that in his vainglorious attempt, he had unwittingly fallen into Joker’s trap. Joker’s lady love, Harley Quinn (Jenny Slate), steals the projector and frees not only Joker but also the other notorious villains of the Lego universe, including Lord Voldemort, Sauron, the Kraken and the Wicked Witch of the West. The rest of the film revolves around Batman trying to make Gotham City a safe place again and meting out some ‘bat’ justice. 

The refreshing bit of The Lego Batman Movie is that it shows the human side of Batman. When he is not sulking over his parents’ death or being a vigilante, he likes to relax in his bat cave and watch Jerry Maguire, while eating microwaved lobster thermidor made by his ever-faithful butler Alfred. The film doesn’t glorify Batman but shows his human fallacies and how his vigilante act is nothing short of an ego boost.  

This Chris McKay-directed film is a visual treat for children and adults alike. McKay uses the simple Lego bricks to create a grandiose universe that has its own share of fallacies. Arnett plays the vain caped crusader to the letter, which is not surprising given his much-loved stint as Gob on Arrested Development. The film beautifully lampoons the culture of deifying superheroes, when it is more about feeding their cavalier attitude. And this is why, it will be unfair to call The Lego Batman Movie a kiddie film.