Director: Brandon Vietti
Cast: Bruce Greenwood, Vincent Martella, John Dimaggio, Gary Cole
Have I Seen it Before: No, but I’ve read the comic series. I’ve also felt underwhelmed by many of these DC animated adaptations, so I’m left with a number of questions as I start the movie. The obvious question is will the end of Robin be as violent as it was back in the 80s? Is that even something I want to see? But the other questions I have are far more pressing. Will HBOMax keep the interactive feature advertised (the main thing drawing my attention in the first place)? Will the story continue past the (somewhat Schrödinger-esque) death of Jason Todd and include Iran appointing Joker as their ambassador to the UN? Honestly, that’s the wilder story to tell, giving that character diplomatic immunity.
Did I Like It: Ooh, boy, no. The answer to all of the questions are a resounding no. Not only is the supposed interactive element of the film removed, we are subjected to a short that is apparently just one of the possible endings of the film, and that ending culminates largely in a flashback to the events of Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010). I’ll admit that it might have been too much to hope for the Joker-at-the-UN storyline. I’d even be willing to accept if it the film presented the various endings to me, minus the interactivity. This, however, is not what I wanted when I clicked. The rest of the feature run time is padded out with additional shorts featuring Sgt. Rock (Karl Urban), Adam Strange (Charlie Weber), and possibly others. I’m not sure. I turned off the film somewhere in the middle of the Strange story.
Normally, I wouldn’t even finish a review if I couldn’t finish the film, but I did watch the above titled film, so I’m going through with expressing my disappointment. Actually, disappointment barely begins to cover it. The film on its own merits is a letdown, and the packaging of the film is a disappointment bordering on false advertising.
When was the last time I saw a Batman movie that didn’t underwhelm? The Dark Knight Returns animated movie? Maybe. It’s probably been since 2008, realistically. Here’s the deal DC: Call me when Keaton is back on duty, not before.