The LEGO Batman Movie Parent Guide
Parents and older teens will likely find plenty to laugh at in this animation -- but you might want to leave the littlest ones at home.
Parent Movie Review
The LEGO Batman Movie poses an interesting question within its opening minutes: Would we need good guys, that is superheroes, if we didn’t have bad guys? Batman (voiced by Will Arnett) is quite comfortable saving Gotham City singlehandedly. But when his usual nemeses The Joker (voice of Zach Galifianakis) surprises him by surrendering himself to Gotham City police, Batman is out of a job.
Of course, the lipstick fiend has ulterior motives. Playing with Batman’s vanity he manages to amass an army of other evil villains and attack the city. He also has a personal vendetta to pursue with the Dark Knight.
The conflict between these opposing forces provides plenty of frenetic action throughout. Obviously, there’s no explicit carnage in a LEGO movie but the frequent peril may still be frightening to younger audiences. Even worse, this overabundance of mayhem often obscures the positive messages within this script.
Fixing Batman’s narcissistic is tendencies the primary target of this film’s moral objective. His ego gets in the way of forming sincere relationships, as well as accepting help from others. These characteristics will be challenged after he falls in love with the new police commissioner (voice of Rosario Dawson), unwittingly agrees to adopt an obsessively admiring boy (voice of Michael Cera), and listens to his butler Alfred’s (voice of Ralph Fiennes) fatherly counsel.
Themes of teamwork may also be a little confusing to children when possible allies include a legion of criminals who aren’t quite as bad as the really, really bad dudes that align with The Joker. Yes, this isn’t the only movie on screens with fifty shades of grey, and parents should be prepared to discuss the good and bad traits that exist in all of us.
Although sight gags, like young Robin pulling his pants off, will keep kids amused, most of the humor here comes from sarcastic cultural references, decades of Batman depictions and other iconic characters. Parents and older teens will likely find plenty to laugh at, but you might want to leave the littlest ones at home.
Directed by Chris McKay. Starring Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis. Running time: 105 minutes. Theatrical release February 10, 2017. Updated July 17, 2017About author
The LEGO Batman Movie
Rating & Content Info
Why is The LEGO Batman Movie rated PG? The LEGO Batman Movie is rated PG by the MPAA for rude humor and some action.
Violence: Characters are in perilous situations throughout the film. Although the action is not graphic in its depictions, it still includes threats from bombs, explosions, imprisonment, reckless driving/flying, fist-fights, falling from heights, weapon use, vehicle crashes and property destruction.The distinction between “bad guys” and “good guys” is blurred when the heroes behave unkindly and less-nasty villains turn against more evil villains.
Sexual Content: Some mild sexual innuendo and rude terms (like “butt”) are heard. Infrequent potty words and humor are included. Characters are seen in their underwear when they change their clothes.
Profanity: No real profanities or terms of deity are used, but characters do exclaim copy-cat words such as “heck” and “gosh”.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Social drinking is portrayed, and a couple of alcoholic beverages are mentioned.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
The LEGO Batman Movie Parents' Guide
Although Batman is a superhero, he does have a weakness. What is it? How does his ego sometimes cause him to behave like a bad guy instead of a good guy?
What is the relationship between heroes and villains? Can you have one without the other? What would a good guy do if there were no bad guys to chase? What kind of a world would we live in if no one was trying to thwart evil? How does this movie poke fun at the interconnectedness of these opposing forces?
Batman says he works alone. What are some of the problems with his policy? Why is teamwork more effective than a single person’s best efforts? What things happen in this film to help this superhero understand that principle?
News About "The LEGO Batman Movie"
From the Studio: In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman – stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up. Will Arnett reprises his starring role from “The LEGO Movie” as the voice of LEGO Batman, aka Bruce Wayne. Zach Galifianakis (“Muppets Most Wanted,” the “Hangover” films) stars as The Joker; Michael Cera (TV’s “Arrested Development”) as the orphan Dick Grayson; Rosario Dawson (TV’s “Daredevil”) as Barbara Gordon; and Ralph Fiennes (the “Harry Potter” films) as Alfred.
Home Video
The most recent home video release of The LEGO Batman Movie movie is June 13, 2017. Here are some details…
Home Video Notes: The LEGO Batman Movie
Release Date: 13 June 2017
The LEGO Batman Movie releases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy, or Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) with the following extras:
- Original Animation Shorts (Dark Hoser, Batman is Just Not That Into You, and Cooking with Alfred)
- Movie Sound Effects: How Do They Do That?
- The Master: A LEGO Ninjago Short
- Deleted Scenes
- One Brick at a Time: Making the Lego Batman Movie
- Inside Wayne Manor
- Brick by Brick: Making of the LEGO Batman
- Behind the Brick
- Me and My Mini Fig
- Comic Con Panel
- Rebrick Contest Winners
- Film Trailers
- Lego Life Trailer
- Social Promos
- Director and Crew Commentary
Related home video titles:
This incarnation of Batman was introduced in The Lego Movie. More serious depictions of this character can be seen in Batman Begins, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman Forever and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZeroRelated news about The LEGO Batman Movie
