MERRY LITTLE BATMAN (AMAZON PRIME) (2023)

SYNOPSIS: This Christmas, Damian Wayne wants to be a Super Hero like his dad—the one and only Batman. When Damian is left home alone while Batman takes on Gotham's worst Super-Villains on Christmas Eve, he stumbles upon a villainous plot to steal Christmas and leaps at the chance to save the day. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

Merry Little Batman is the holiday DC animated movie that you sorely need after a series of lacklustre DC theatrical movies. Tailored for both kids and adults, it’s sweet, it’s frenetic, it’s light-hearted!

The only son of Batman (Luke Wilson), Damien Thomas Wayne (Yonas Kibreab) is a boisterous eight-year-old who can’t wait to take on his father’s mantle. Gifted a kid-friendly utility belt by his father, Damien starts his training as Batman on his own. And when his father is summoned by the Justice League for a mission, Damien has to stay home and safeguard Wayne Manor from two burglars not knowing the supervillains from Gotham City are also planning a big heist this Christmas.

In this less darker, grittier version of Batman, there’s lessons to be learn for the younger children such as taking responsibility and the importance of celebrating the festive season with family. Even the first half of the animation seems lifted from Home Alone where we follow the adorable Damien or Little Batman pulling pranks on the two goons who invaded Wayne Manor. It’s after all, a movie aimed at kids.

Things start to get busier when the Joker is introduced alongside Poison Ivy, Bane, The Penguin and Mr Freeze who ended up fighting Batman on a snowy mountain. Holy Cow! It’s a trap! In actual fact, it’s Joker’s evil plan to lure Batman away from Gotham City so that they can destroy Christmas. Merry Little Batman is jam-packed to the brim with Damien’s heroic acts and the non-stop compelling action sequences are a delight to sit through.

Notably, Yonas Kibreab’s boundless energy is perfect for the role. Surprisingly, Luke Wilson’s voice as the intimidating, bearded crime fighter added a soothing fatherly presence to the role while television actor David Hornsby voices the Joker with such glee and playfulness. See, you don’t really need Mark Hamill all the time. Also, keep an eye and ears on all the easter eggs littered around liked the wickedly named Damien’s pet cat and a brief mention of Damien’s birth mother among others.

A departure from the gothic, dark deco visual style of the much loved Batman: Animated Series, this 2D, sketchy animation style which looks kind of similar to the recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem works perfectly here. Director Mike Roth who worked on Regular Show at Cartoon Network certainly knows a thing or two on creating a rousing animated movie. The first Warner Bros animation to be release by Amazon instead of WB is a great addition to the holiday season. Animated Batman sure rules!

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee