Merry Little Batman

I really want to love this movie but I just found myself feeling 'meh' in the end. The concept is interesting because it tends to get tiresome seeing gritty and tough Batman. It's great that somebody wants to lighten things up and give a more carefree view of Batman without going zany and immature to the level of Teen Titans Go.

The performances are pretty solid. I was hesitant with Luke Wilson at first but he is probably the strongest role of the film. Turns out he is well suited for the 'Bat-Dad' role.

Lastly, the animation style. I really like it. It made me feel like getting out the brushes and painting a scene. I love that it isn't too complex but still engaging.

If you're a Batman fan then check it out. Just don't expect anything eye opening or revolutionary.

I was not sure if this movie was going to come out or not, but without knowing, it randomly comes out on the Amazon Prime streaming service; all I knew was that the movie was a mix of Batman from the DC universe and the movie Home Alone (1990). The movie Merry Little Batman (2023) has an interesting but nice-looking animation style, some funny moments, and a premise that felt stretched out; it follows the Home Alone (1990) premise in the first half of the movie, but then keeps going, and does something else that I was not expecting with a different premise that could have worked as the full movie and not just second to last half of the movie.

Luke Wilson as Bruce Wayne/Batman was not a choice I would have made to voice this character, but he still does a good enough job with him getting at least most of what is good about Batman, while also being funny occasionally. Bruce Wayne/Batman's son Damian Wayne voiced by Yonas Kibreab, who also gives a good enough performance, is trying to be like his father and be the next Batman, even though Bruce Wayne/Batman keeps saying he is not ready; Damian will stop Wayne Manor from being broken into, but for the whole movie he is going around Gotham City taking down well known villains and trying to get back his utility belt that his father got him.

The movie has well known villains such as The Joker, Mr. Freeze, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, and Bane who all have weird looking designs and weird sounding voices; The Joker is just trying to destroy Christmas and Damian along with Batman will stop him, there is not much to say other than that. The animation gave the characters weird designs, but also the backgrounds and look of everything had nice colors; also, the look of this made it look like a movie that would play on Cartoon Network. The movie does feel a bit stretched out, but I was entertained enough while watching it with its funny moments and references, along with its fun action.

Merry Little Batman (2023) is an entertaining, funny, enjoyable enough of a DC universe Christmas movie, it does also seem a bit too child friendly at times, so this movie will entertain little kids; if you are a DC fan you will either like it for it being an entertaining animated Batman movie, or you will not like it because of it being too child friendly. This movie is not something to rush onto Amazon Prime and watch; this is just a Batman Christmas movie made by DC, that should be enough to make this an enjoyable and entertaining time.

FILM: 7/10.

Embarking on a watch of the 2023 film Merry Little Batman, I found myself pleasantly surprised by this rescued gem. Initially teetering on the brink of becoming another Warner Bros tax write-off, Amazon stepped in to salvage this animated adventure from cinematic obscurity.

Designed with a bullseye on the 30 to 40-something parents who cut their Bat-teeth on Batman: The Animated Series, Merry Little Batman delivers a Bat-themed holiday treat perfect for family viewing.

The animation style, a departure from my usual preferences, echoes the director Mike Roth's earlier work on SpongeBob SquarePants and The Regular Show. While not my cup of tea, it adds a quirky charm that younger audiences might appreciate.

What truly sets Merry Little Batman aglow is its relentless shower of references to Batman lore from comics, films, and TV shows. It's a joy for fans, creating a playful tapestry woven with nods to the Caped Crusader's expansive pop culture footprint.

At its core, the film cleverly repackages the Home Alone formula. However, instead of a regular family, we have Batman's son, Damian, defending Wayne Manor and Gotham against the formidable rogues' gallery. The familiar premise injects a fresh dose of fun into the holiday-themed narrative.

While the animation style might not align with my tastes, Merry Little Batman manages to carve out its own Bat-niche. It's a festive flick that successfully bridges the generational gap, offering a holiday escapade that's both nostalgic for Bat-fans and a new, animated delight for the younger audience. With a playful spirit and nods to Batman's rich legacy, it's a merry Bat-venture worth unwrapping.

FORMAT: Streaming

VIDEO: 9/10.

1080p streaming presentation, Detail level: Good, Colour reproduction: Excellent, Level accuracy: Excellent, Encode: Excellent, Master condition: Excellent

AUDIO: 9/10.

Dolby Digital 5.1 streaming audio, Dialogue reproduction: Excellent, Soundtrack & effects clarity: Excellent, Dynamics: Excellent, Surround sound presentation: Good, LFE content: Good

MOOFIEMETER: 7/10.

This is exactly what would happen if Batman were a Cartoon Network production rather than a DC production.

The fact that the project was handed over to Mike Roth really added a different style to the animation.

Mike Roth is a name who has previously written and drawn works such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Regular Show.

It was a logical decision to include experienced names such as James Cromwell and Luke Wilson in the dubbing cast.

They entrusted the character of Damien Wayne to Yonas Kibreab, who has experience beyond his years.

As a Batman collector myself, I am very satisfied. Of course, when it comes to Batman, everyone has very high expectations.

I don't know what other people's expectations were for the current rating to be so low, but mine were met and exceeded, hence I have no remorse giving 10/10. When do I give 10/10? Is this an Oscar worthy artistic masterpiece? No, but that is not my own metric. I was thoroughly entertained and I can't think of anything that I'd change to make the movie better, neither did anything bug or annoy me.

The movie is fun, colorful good time for the Batman Fans, because there are a lot of easter eggs and references that non-fans would probably miss. An example is when Damian mentions Bat-Skates and Bruce calls the idea stupid, which ich a clear reference to Batman and Robin, where they do have Bat-Skates. The plot revolves about Damian, who tries to get his Bat-Belt back whilst the bad guys try to steal Christmas (much like the grinch). The movie is non-offensive aimed at the Dads, who grew up watching Batman in the 90s ...and their Kids. It so happens that I am exactly such Dad with small kids. I feel like this movie was tailored for me, and I very much appreciated it. For your casual viewer, I guess it is just a stupid animated batman movie, but to me it is exactly the right kind of stupid and I feel like this is a future cult favorite.

If you are like me, in your 30s, still wearing batman shirts and still feeling like a little kid if anyone gets you any batman merchandise or a stupid Bat-shampoo, then you'll love this movie. With all the stress and worries from my daily lives, this was an hour and half of escapism, that really helped clean the palate.