THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE is ready to invade U.S. theaters for evening screenings on February 9 and then it opens nationwide on February 10. The first round of reviews have started to hit the web and, so far, the critics all seem to love it.
Here's a quick round-up of some of the first reviews. (Click the website name to read their full review.)
Bleeding Cool:
"And yes, without a shadow of a doubt, this is the best Batman movie I have ever seen. And that you will see as well. But it’s so much more richer for having seen all other Batman movies, TV shows and comics as well."
IGN:
"The usually dark world of Batman is reimagined with insane energy and vibrancy. The quality of animation ensures each one of its blocky characters bursts with life and emotion. I particularly love how McKay and his writers have – very much in the spirit of LEGO – mixed-and-matched elements from other Batman stories and adaptations. Danny DeVito’s Penguin colludes with Tom Hardy’s Bane, while Arnett’s Batman quotes Michael Keaton one minute and tips his cowl to Adam West the next. Where else can you see that? It’s a frenetic and joyously unhinged celebration of all things Batman. But it’s so much more than a parody. Beneath its eccentric surface, The LEGO Batman Movie finds a new way to approach these familiar characters. Yes, it’s a great comedy, but it’s a great Batman movie, too."
"While The LEGO Batman Movie does get bogged down in too much plot, there's no question it's a refreshing kick up the Bat-side for a character who has, perhaps, been overused in cinema of late. But the really tricky outcome for Warners, the studio behind this and the live-action Batman films, is that this version is a lot more appealing than spending time in Snyder's current, dour take on the DC universe. Maybe there's still time to retro-animate his upcoming Justice League movie with LEGO bricks."
"When it counts, The LEGO Batman Movie delivers everything you’d want from such a farcical superhero creation. Everyone gets what they want. Diehard Batman fans are gifted their Orca references and an actual Nightwing representation, while mainstream moviegoers can embrace the sugary sweetness that is LEGO’s brand of vivacious entertainment. Sometimes this can feel surface-value, as jokes are cycled with Flash-like speed, but it’s all in tremendously good fun. You’re here for Arnett’s perfect casting, Catwoman meowing and Joker’s bromance with Bats – everything from the third-act on is just gravy. Delicious, shark-repelling gravy."
"The ridiculing of the Batman franchise is done in a notably affectionate way too, and while there are some really funny jokes made at the expense of Batman V Superman, and Suicide Squad, you can tell this is coming from a good place, as a playful picture evidently made by fans, and that’s imperative. Yet, in quite remarkable fashion, away from the consistent stream of gags – as a film that takes something of a scattergun approach – this is actually, and arguably, the most intimate study of the eponymous role in the character’s existence. Bruce Wayne is a rather tragic bloke, really, lonely, with just an old butler who he’d consider an actual friend, and this plays up lovingly to this notion. Aw, if only all films were made out of Lego."
"'The Lego Batman Movie' is still roughly four hundred million times more enjoyable than 'Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice,' and hardcore Bat-fans will probably find it an absolute joy. But those of us who were hoping for the film to be something of an antidote to superhero formula will unfortunately find it adhering much too closely to the playbook."
This is just the first round of reviews and there are sure to be a few sour grapes in the coming days, but it seems like THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE is well on its way to becoming 2017's first animated blockbuster.
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