Most of the characters have tie-ins to movie, comic, and book merchandise/franchises (including DC superheroes, Harry Potter, The Matrix, The Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, and many more). Also appearances of/verbal references to brands/products including Vitamin Water, Google, iPhone, Bed Bath and Beyond, and romantic comedies like Serendipity and Jerry Maguire.
Violence & Scariness
some
A little darker/edgier in tone The Lego Movie. Tons of bad guys, battles, attacks, crashes, explosions, bombs, weapons (including various kinds of guns), fire, lava rivers, destruction, and general mayhem -- parts of Gotham City literally crumble to bits. Because it's all made out of Legos, there's zero gore, and very little is permanently damaged. But the main characters are constantly in danger, and one key character momentarily seems headed for a more serious end.
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Batman gets a crush on Barbara Gordon at first sight; very mild flirting between them. Batman is proud of his chiseled pecs/physique. He's sometimes shown changing out of his batsuit/in his underwear, then wearing a chest-baring robe. Dick/Robin prefers not to wear pants with his costume (what's underneath is a thong-like strip). At least one over-kids'-heads joke related to Dick's name.
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Some use of insult/potty words, including "butt," "stupid," "loser," "sucks," "farts," "shut up," etc. Also phrases like "dear gosh," "holy cow," "what the heck," and "oh em gosh," plus occasional British slang such as "ruddy." Some jokes are made about Dick/Robin's name.
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Strong, clear message that working as a team with people you care about and respect is better than trying to do everything yourself/alone. Thinking you're better than everyone else is bound to backfire (i.e. humility is important). Trying to avoid pain by refusing to make connections with others only hurts you more in the end.
Positive Role Models
some
Batman starts out as a self-centered, egotistical vigilante who thinks he can do everything on his own ("I don't need anyone," he says proudly); it takes most of the movie, but he eventually learns humility and the value of teamwork, family, and companionship. Barbara Gordon is a strong, smart female character who's tough but fair. Dick/Robin is an eager, optimistic kid; Alfred is endlessly patient and wants to help Batman/Bruce find the right path. The Joker is clearly a bad guy, but even he's made somewhat sympathetic by his desire to have Batman acknowledge their importance to each other.
Educational Value
very little
Intended to entertain rather than educate, but does teach kids that it's important to admit when you need help and to connect with other people.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that, like 2014's The Lego Movie, The Lego Batman Movie is clever, creative, and funny, with nonstop action. It's a little darker/edgier than its predecessor -- there are tons of bad guys, battles, explosions, bombs, weapons, destruction, and general mayhem. But because it's all made out of Legos, there's zero gore, and very little is permanently damaged (lots of things are put back together in a literal snap). Still, the main characters are constantly in peril, which could upset some younger/more sensitive kids, and one key character momentarily seems headed for a more serious end. Words like "butt," "loser," and "sucks" are used, and there's a little flirting, plus humor related to Dick/Robin's preference to go without pants when wearing his costume -- but nothing gets too risque. Batman is forced to give himself a pretty hard look over the course of the movie, eventually realizing that he can't do everything by himself and that working with a team/having a family is more fun and fulfilling than going it alone (no matter how awesome your pecs are). As with all Lego movies, shows, and games, it also serves as a feature-length toy ad -- but you may not care, you'll be laughing so hard. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
"I am normally sad and lonely. No one likes me. But now, I CAN WATCH LEGO BATMAN and not look so sad. Its like I have friends"- This is what my 4 year old daughter said yesterday. So proud
Robin's real name is Dick. I'll just say it left an awkward silence between my 9 and 8 year old when we watched it for the first time on DVD the other day. I found that highly inappropriate to use a name for a kids movie. They couldve used a name like Dexter or Percy but Dick?! I loved the comedy but I am an adult (I actually laughed so hard and find the movie hilarious). My kids didnt get it. This really isn't a movie for younger kids. Your kids 10 and under won't get it. Your 3 and 4 year olds don't need to see this movie. As a 38 year old mother, I am looking forward to seeing Lego Batman 2...at least by then my kids will be old enough to get it then!
What's the Story?
In THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE, Batman/Bruce Wayne (voiced by Will Arnett), is pretty sure he's got it made -- sweet Batcave, awesome tuxedo wardrobe, endless Bat-vehicles and gadgets. But without anyone to share it with (other than long-suffering butler/minder Alfred, of course), what does it all mean? Even Gotham City's biggest bad guy, he Joker (Zach Galifianakis), can't break through Batman's "I don't need anyone" defense mechanisms. Things start changing when Batman accidentally adopts earnest young orphan Dick Grayson (Michael Cera) and meets Gotham's new police commissioner, Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson). She wants Batman to work alongside the cops, rather than as a solo vigilante. He's skeptical, but after the Joker engineers a mass breakout from the galaxy's most secure prison, the Caped Crusader may have no other choice than to finally give teamwork a try.
Smart, funny, and fast-paced, this second big-screen Lego movie shows that the first one wasn't a fluke: The folks behind this franchise definitely know what they're doing. Jokes and pop culture references fly fast and furiously in The Lego Batman Movie -- adults are likely to get a particular kick out of the many references to earlier Batman movies and TV shows -- and the animation is colorful and creative. It never gets old to see all the inventive ways that Lego pieces and characters are used, built, taken apart, and rebuilt. Plus, the writing is snappy, and the voice cast is spot on. Arnett stole the show as the Dark Knight in The Lego Movie, and he has no trouble taking center stage here. Cera's Dick Grayson/Robin is perfectly chirpy and wide-eyed; Dawson is cool, calm tough-chick perfection as Barbara; Ralph Fiennes is drolly amusing as Alfred (who gets several memorable scenes); and Galifianakis is a great mix of quirky and menacing as the Joker.
All of that said, what's particularly pleasing about this franchise (so far, at least!) is how much attention has obviously been paid to story development and positive take-aways for kids and families. No, the Lego movies aren't going to give you quite as many feels as something like Inside Out, but they've got distinct, memorable characters who change and grow over the course of their adventures in ways that even kids will understand -- in between their bouts of giggles, of course. Barbara's message to Batman -- "you can't be a hero if you only care about yourself" -- is simple and clear, but you never feel hit over the head by it because you're too busy marveling at the movie's technical achievements and clever humor. Bottom line? The Lego Batman Movie is as at least as much fun as one of Batman's tuxedo dress-up parties.
How does the Batman in the Lego movies compare to other versions of Batman you've seen in movies and/or TV shows? Why do you think Batman is usually portrayed as so serious and angry? Is he a role model?
The Joker is definitely a villain, but it's clear that we're also supposed to sympathize with his frustration and hurt feelings regarding his relationship with Batman. Is it OK to feel sorry for a bad guy? How did you feel about him in the end?
How do the Lego movies stack up to other toy-based franchises, like the Barbie or Transformers films? Does watching them make you want to get the Lego characters in the movie?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Betsy Bozdech
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
