MOVIE REVIEW

The Lego Batman Movie Directed by Chris McKay

The movie doesn’t have the balls to be what I hoped it would be — what it needed to be — but what there is ain’t bad. Michael Sragow in his Film Comment review points out how Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) plays Hilary to Batman’s petulant Trump and in a more competently managed world that’s how it should turn out (unfortunately this isn’t that world). My own ideal scenario would be funnier, in a Swiftian sense: have Batrump sit in his own mess, the filth getting more rancid and unbearable until something or someone snaps — but hey, who wants psychological realism when you can just escape into that better world for a while? I doubt if my version would enjoy the same box office ($90 million worldwide on its opening weekend) but would enjoy a more interesting integrity.

Wish the Daleks had a bigger role (appreciated their presence nevertheless); wish the Klingons or Romulans played a part too. He Who Must Not Be Named (happy to oblige) I couldn’t care less — anyway all Lego characters look essentially noseless — but wasn’t there enough room for a few New Gods, or the Swamp Thing, maybe an Eternal or two?

In my list of favorite Batman movies — an important historical document I’m sure — I figure this to rank somewhere in the middle: not quite as good as Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski’s The

Animated Series, but better than Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, or Snyder’s Dawn of Justice (which to be fair are better than Schumacher’s atrocities — I may be crazy but I’m not stupid). Can think of worse ways to pass a Sunday afternoon. MTRCB RATING: PG