With the success of 2014’s The Lego Movie and the introduction of Will Arnett’s take on the Dark Knight it was inevitable that the character would get his stand alone movie. Come on, its batman. Needless to say, The Lego Batman Movie delivers and expands on the formula that the Lego Movie invented. Focusing on Batman, both poking fun at the fact that Batman always shows up to save the day, and giving us an original Batman story that seems as though it was made just as much for adults as it was for kids. So much is on display in this film, from the massive Lego Gotham City, to the Lego Bat-cave and even a few other familiar places from the DC universe. The movie at times puts Batman’s past on display from as recent as 2016’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, to both Batman: The Animated Series and Batman-Beyond, even the classic 60’s Batman gets more than a few nods. When Batman unknowingly adopts orphan Richard Grayson, he struggles with the fact that he doesn’t need anyone, from a sidekick, to an arch villain. Although the movie frequently picks at Batman and his stubbornness and inability to accept help, it works well for the film, giving him a hilariously large ego, that is almost never brought to the forefront and often written off by the fact that, well, he is Batman. Almost everything about this movie works so well that it is really hard to find a flaw, I found one personally, but that will come soon. Featuring such a huge roster of voice actors from, Will Arnett voicing the titular hero, Michael Cera, voicing the adorable Robin, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes, and Billy Dee Williams to name a few. Not quite the same large scale story building as The Lego Movie, it seems unnecessary being that this is a Batman centered movie and the history has previously been built, it is able to focus more on the story and the massive roster of Batman’s locations both in and around Gotham, to the characters, from the Joker and Harley Quinn to C listers such as Calender Man and Killer Moth. The movie really shines in every aspect, my only complaint being the cameos of certain characters come the movies third act. This seemed out of place and unnecessary  to me, instead feeling like a good opportunity to add other better known DC Comics characters to the already huge roster the movie boasts. This is not a big enough complaint to take away from the movie and its huge success. I would have preferred the film to take a page from the films first act and make more references to the characters 75+ years of history, but the character after all that time needs to blaze its own trail and forge an original story which it does spectacularly. After all these years, Batman can still feel fresh and The Lego Batman Movie presented us with a truly unique origin for this incarnation of the bat-family. A movie for child and adult alike, The Lego Batman Movie has something for everyone, whether it be silly Batman antics, or references to almost every iteration of the character, it is a must see for fans of all ages!

8.5 out of 10