The LEGO Batman Movie

RATING: B

It only took three years, but we're finally getting the next movie in the "LEGO Movie" series... followed by another one in about 7 months. It wasn't really a surprise that we were getting a LEGO Batman movie, since he was one of the more popular things about the original movie. So, of course, expectations were high.

This LEGO Batman Movie, much like its predecessor, had a marketing campaign that actually hid most of the second half of the movie for once. But it doesn't tell you everything about the first half, either; leaving me in a slight pinch with what I can and can't say. The general plot circles around Batman (Will Arnett) trying to save Gotham City from the Joker and various other villains, while also being forced by Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) to stop being a loner, which starts with working with a very young Robin. (I know Robin is generally younger than Batman, but he's actually a literal kid still in this one.)

Although it doesn't have the same kind of odd yet creative twist that the first LEGO Movie did, in some ways the two movies are actually pretty similar when you think about it, for better or for worse. The good news is the hilarity, which is once again off the rails. There are so many background jokes being fired at you at a near constant rate once again. One of this movie's frequent kind of jokes is making fun of previous Batman movies and occasionally the DC Universe in general. And the depiction of Gotham City throughout as almost an apocalyptic wasteland is a nice exaggeration. And elsewhere, I must compliment the studios for being able to make action sequences with nothing but LEGO animation actually enjoyable.

The issue once again, though, is that at times the movie gets a little preachy. And somewhat cheesy, even. The usage of it here is arguably worse, since it's *not* used in a creative manner like its predecessor, and it feels even more out of place in this movie than it did in the last one. It's such a dramatic switch in tone from the rest of the movie, which is so comedic and is practically a parody, and it just doesn't feel right at all. Also, I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with the "hero-villain" dynamic--a hero *needs* a super villain, and vice versa--as it gets taken to somewhat awkward levels here. It's probably the only thing in this movie that's supposed to be funny but just isn't.

Even when flaws like that make me almost cringe occasionally, it's basically impossible to straight up dislike this movie or its predecessor, because they are just so funny. So while some people may end up coming away more pleased with the product as a whole than others, it's worth watching regardless for the humor. I do hope that in future LEGO movies they'll work out some of the kinks, but in the end, I can't be too horribly critical when I'm laughing as much as I am.