The LEGO Batman Movie review: ★★★★★

All Batman films are the absolute worst. Anyone holding a candle for Christian Bale's angry man-pecks or Heath Ledger's red lipstick should watch the terrible Batman v Superman on a loop as punishment, forever.

Aren't these films meant to be for children? If so, paraphrase The Joker, why are they so serious? There's nothing remotely serious to be found in a man in cosplay chasing another man in makeup around a building site.

Trust Hollywood get so lost up its own... batcave. Now, we need a bunch of comedians to show us all how a superhero film should look. Enter LEGO Batman, free from all that self congratulatory pseudo-danger and full, instead, with buckets of humour, heart and self-awareness.

Gravely, growly Batman (Will Arnett from 30 Rock) is riding high on the success of the last film when he attends the celebratory ball for the new, female Gotham Police Commissioner, Barbara Gordon, and accidentally adopts a son. The festivities are rudely interrupted by the villainous Joker (Zach Galifianakis) and his motley crew, which includes the refreshingly non-sexualised Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. Batman won't admit that The Joker is his greatest enemy, and The Joker departs the party, make-up running down his face, like a spurned lover.

Batman is, of course, not so much a glamorous, hero as an angry, dysfunctional weirdo, who needs to learn to love (and hate) properly. Fortunately the police commissioner (Rosario Dawson) believes that vigilantes and the police need to work together; Batman's son needs some serious costume advice, and The Joker has a horrible, cunning plan to prove he means more to Gotham's famous superstar than any of the other villains.

Where there's fault to be found with this film, it's in Batman's incessant yo-yo-ing between keeping his loved-ones at a safe distance and welcoming them into his heart. But basically, it's a good film for all the family this half term, and a damn sight better than any other Batman film you'll ever watch.

Review by Helena Kealey