Tonight's Movie: The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Exactly three years ago THE LEGO MOVIE (2014) was an unexpected pleasure, creative and funny.

The new spinoff film, THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (2017), is even better. It's amusing from the opening credits, and it's got a nice substantive story to go with it, as Batman learns to have relationships.

Batman (Will Arnett), aka Bruce Wayne, has feared loss since his parents died. Of course, Batman's trusty butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) is always around, but Bruce aka Batman is still a solitary fellow, unwilling to let anyone else in at home or on the job.

Then Batman inadvertently "adopts" Dick Grayson (Michael Cera) aka Robin, and he also develops a huge crush on the new police commissioner, Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) aka Batgirl. (In one of many cute lines she threatens to call Batman "Batboy.") Batman finally learns to let people get close, while at the same time his giant-sized ego receives a little needed puncturing.

Like THE LEGO MOVIE, the film is bursting with creativity, and there are many delightful moments. The humor is written on an adult level, and while kids will like it too, I suspect children may not even get some of the inside jokes or sly tributes. (There's even a shot of Adam West!) While I don't know enough on the topic to have an opinion, my husband also opined that the movie "gets" the DC Universe more than those who have made the last several BATMAN and SUPERMAN movies.

There's so much happening on the screen that I'll be wanting to take another look at this one before long to take more of it in. It provides a very good time at the movies.

The large voice cast includes Conan O'Brien, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Dee Williams, Eddie Izzard, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Hector Elizondo, and Mariah Carey.

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE was directed by Chris McKay. The running time is 104 minutes.

Parental Advisory: PG for "rude humor" and action. There's a very little bit of obnoxious humor but the movie is cleaner in that regard than some other animated features I've seen in recent years.

The trailer is here.

Update: This film is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.