Holy Shocker, Batman! The LEGO Batman Movie is not only a worthy sequel to Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s 2014 The LEGO Movie, but quite possibly one of the best Batman films ever.

The LEGO Movie was a welcome surprise on its release back in 2014. It’s one of the few successful and universally entertaining toy to film translations to the big screen; broad, clever writing and characters that appeal to both young fans of the LEGO building brick toys while providing plenty of nostalgia for their parents. One of the breakout stars of The LEGO Movie was LEGO Batman, voiced with equal parts rogue-ish charisma and narcissistic charm by Arrested Development star Will Arnett. Arnett’s Batman was the secondary protagonist of that film and here he is given his own film to explore his take on the character as well the world of the Caped Crusader. In both aspects, the film is a tremendous success; providing a unique exploration of the motivation behind why Batman fights crime and, at the same time, opening up the LEGO universe to more of the same kind of genre-mashing action that The LEGO Movie did so well.

The LEGO Batman Movie opens up with LEGO versions of all of Batman’s famous rogues gallery organized by Zach Galafianakis’ Lego Joker in a mad plot to bomb Gotham City out of existence with a bomb placed on the tectonic plate Gotham rests on. It goes without saying that Batman saves the day, with a fun twist. But as Joker and Batman face off, Joker finds that Batman doesn’t consider him his greatest enemy but just another rogue, which sends Joker into a spiral to find a way to prove his worth to Batman and to himself. At the same time, we see Arnett’s Batman only defines himself by his desire to remain isolated; content to watch rom-coms alone in his vast mansion and Batcave while eating microwaved lobster thermodor. While Arnett’s Batman is hilarious in his efforts to prove he is comfortable with his lifestyle; the pathos he exudes from remembering the happiness at being a part of a family is heartbreaking throughout the film. In many ways, Batman’s arc is similar to that of Ralph in Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph in the film; down to whether his actions even qualify him as a true hero. If anything, The LEGO Batman Movie is more effective in communicating how broken and lonely Batman is from the loss of his family in a few moments of solemn reflection at a family than Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was in its full runtime.

This issue comes to a head when Batman accidentally adopts a lonely orphan named Richard Grayson (played superbly by Michael Cera) at a charity fundraiser. Batman doesn’t want to let him into his life, but finds a use for him in a plan to send The Joker away once for all; despite the fact that the new police commissioner of Gotham City, Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) wants to work together with Batman in a partnership; not just be beholden to him working completely alone and in the dark to his actions. Batman has to balance his needs to belong to something larger versus whether his need to pursue justice at any cost is selfish in nature in that it keeps people at arms length.

That the film and its script (story credited to Seth Grahame-Smith of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter/i>) focus so heavily on Batman and what motivates him is a strong testament to why this works so much better than most of the live action Batman films the past twenty plus years. Most live action Batman films are focuses heavily on the villain chewing the scenery versus any focus on Batman past a passing love interest. This film is a great introduction for parents to the Batman character; as it celebrates all his past incarnations (with many great easter eggs for longtime fans). But more importantly, its a great reminder to long term fans why Batman is a great character; he’s an everyman with a relatable backstory and the need to belong is something that resonates with everyone. The LEGO Batman Movie may very well be this year’s Deadpool; a film that gets the character completely right to the acclaims of fans and critics and its opening credits gag rivals that of Deadpool as well. Check this film out, its one of the best Batman films made, animated or otherwise.