Review: Lego DC Comics Superheroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout (2016)

Directed by: Matt Peters, Melchior Zwyer | 75 minutes | animation, action, adventure, comedy, family | Original Voice Cast: Troy Baker, Nolan North, Gray Griffin, John DiMaggio, Jason Spisak, Will Friedle, Tara Strong, Sarah Hyland, Scott Menville, Amy Hill, Tom Kenny, Greg Cipes, Eric Bauza, Khary Payton, Vanessa Marshall, Hynden Walch

Everyone wants to be as cool as Batman, but do you know that Batman never has a vacation? For him, don’t read long books at the edge of the pool, stroll along the boulevard, lick an Italian ice cream, discover unknown restaurants in narrow streets where no tourists ever come … When Batman’s anniversary comes, Nightwing, as the representative of the Justice, finds League, however, the opportunity to send Batman on vacation. After all, what do you give to someone who already has at least one thing of everything? Exactly… quality time with his friends! The Justice League has thought of everything. In Batman’s absence, Superman will take care of things in Gotham City, and if there really is no other option, he can enlist the help of Robin (who has to stay at home because it’s a school night and homework needs to be done), Cyborg and Wonder Woman. But Superman doesn’t think he needs that …

Meanwhile, Nightwing and Batgirl take Batman on a literal trip down memory lane. The purpose of the holiday is to pay a visit to the most important people in Batman’s history. First stop is a visit to Madame Mantis’ dojo, where Batman was once trained. But an unpleasant surprise awaits them there …

“Lego DC Comics Superheroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout” is a standalone movie from the Lego DC Comics Superheroes series, although some prior knowledge of the characters is recommended. The jokes follow each other in rapid succession and because the number of characters, both good and bad, is so large, it quickly becomes confusing for young viewers. However, there are plenty of new characters too, like Madame Mantis, a sensei-like old granny who trained Batman as a child (and named him Batface) and an army of Trogowogs.

The joke density is high, but the level is not that high; “Gotham City Breakout” lacks the clever humor from the “Star Wars” Lego movies and goes more for silly puns and slapstick. Nevertheless, you do not have to be bored for a moment with this animation film. It skilfully jumps back and forth between the events in Gotham City (where Superman obviously messes up) and Batman’s holiday destination and although the outcome is never uncertain, there are quite – for the youthful target group – exciting fragments in it. “Lego DC Comics Superheroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout” is not memorable for a moment, but it does not aim for it. A safe purchase for the Lego movie collectors, but not the undisclosed hit that the name suggests.