As a kid growing up in the nineties Batman the Animated series has always been the staple to which all other Batman animated projects were to be compared against. There have been better animation styles, and even better voice acting in certain cases. But the series is a classic, and beautiful in its simplicity. The series gave us a new, darker, and more in depth look at the world of the Batman. It also introduced us to new characters, none more popular than The Joker’s girlfriend Harley Quinn.
Many of the voice actors from the original show are back for this movie, including my favorite voice actor, Kevin Conroy. Harley herself is played by The Big Ban Theory’s Melissa Rauch. She does a great job as Harley if you ask me. Less like a dumb valley girl, and more like a hardened criminal in my opinion. In fact, all the voice acting is great, meaning it feels natural for the characters.
It’s a shame that these great voice actors were wasted on such a mediocre script. The producers jam packed this film with so many silly and ridiculous jokes that one can’t help but cringe in spots. At one point the age-old question is answered, what if somebody farted in the Batmobile? The windows don’t go down, Nightwing is about to puke, but Batman, always the strong guy says, “It isn’t that bad”.
But fart jokes aren’t even the worst part. Again, we get to see what I can only imagine is Bruce Tim playing out his super heroes banging fantasy again. That’s right folks, more of that masked sex you enjoyed so much in The Killing Joke. This time by Nightwing and Harley Quinn. So yeah bro, whatever diseases the Joker has, you got them too now. . .
On to the actual plot of this thing. We start off with Batman and Nightwing coming across Poison Ivy and The Floronic Man’s plot to turn everybody on earth into plants. The formula they are using can only be done correctly if they use water from the same swamp as the Swamp Thing, since they are trying to mimic his creation on a large scale. For whatever reason, they need somebody who is close to Ivy in order to talk her out of the plot. Thus, the hunt for Harley begins.
Nightwing finds her working as a waitress in a restaurant where all the girls dress in skimpy super hero costumes. Actually, a pretty neat idea I thought. I would go there. Nevertheless, after work her and Nightwing have a good fight in the alley after he tries to take her in. She sneaks a little joker poison on him, then knocks him out. He is now tied up to her bed, this is when they get their bang on. Shortly after Batman comes to save Nightwing. His keen detective skills tell him sex is in the air.
A road trip leads to a goon bar. Here we get some musical numbers. Harley has to sing and shake her knockers in order to get some info. After the song, in an attempt to mimic the live action television series, a fight montage with large colorful letters splashes across the screen.
After an argument between Batman and Harley on whether or not she is sane and trustworthy, they find themselves in the swamps of Louisiana. Harley almost immediately turns on Batman and Nightwing. She tries convincing Ivy that she can ultimately destroy the world if the formula is wrong. Ivy believes it is worth the risk, so in a last-ditch effort Harley releases the dynamic duo.
They convince Poison Ivy not to release the formula. But the floronic Man is insane, and determined to complete the mission. FINALLY, the Swamp Thing emerges from the water and explains that although he WILL NOT STOP the Floronic Man, the green does not agree with idea. He then sinks back down into the swamp. Everybody in the movie and audience is let down by the Swamp Thing here.
The three heroes have no options left. Only the genius Harley comes up with the idea to burn him in the final seconds of the film. Grateful of all her help, they both kiss her at the same time. She blushes. Credits . . .
You can see how many fans who expected a callback to the animated series could be let down. About the only thing resembling that series is the animation style. On that note, this team did a great job. Fight sequences were fun and fast paced. I always questioned that decision to make Batman’s chin so damn big though. Sue me.
This is a fairly good use of characters both popular and not so popular. I have recently just finished the Swamp Thing run by Alan Moore, so it is nice to see his origins explored and his rogue’s gallery being used. Poison Ivy and Floronic Man (Jason Woodrue) make a great team. The two questionable decisions coming from not Having Swamp Thing burst out and destroy Floronic man instead of the goofy burn him and double kiss ending we got.
The sex jokes should be expected as this is a PG-13 rated story involving Harley Quinn. Bruce Tim and company are obviously pushing their boundaries from their days working for network television. That being said, many of these sequences fall a little flat, or are laughable, only because you can’t imagine it happening in The Batman’s universe.
Many elements of this did work for me. I like the Easter eggs, and playing with the ideas that yeah, the Batmobile is sitting in traffic with three people inside. Do you sit in uncomfortable silence? Besides porno, what would somebody like Harley do for money after being reformed? This movie attempts to address these situations. But if you ask me, too many “jokes” in a Batman movie soil the experience.
SCORE
6/10
Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below.