Movie Review: Batman and Harley Quinn

What..the hell…was this…

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Batman and Harley Quinn grows the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), and assumes a new direction for the caped crusader. Bruce Timm, co-producer and creator of Batman: The Animated Series returns for this story, and he’s joined by longtime Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy. Melissa Rauch brings Harley Quinn to life, with Loren Lester once again assuming his part as Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing.

The story follows Batman and Nightwing in an effort to thwart Poison Ivy  (Paget Brewster) and Floronic Man (Kevin Michael Richardson). Ivy and Floronic Man, aka Jason Woodrue, concoct a zany plan to transform all of the humanity into plants. This forces Batman and Nightwing to team up with the wacky Harley Quinn, a close friend of Poison Ivy.

Our Take

Although Batman and Harley Quinn bears the Batman name and Batman: The Animated Series aesthetic, don’t proceed expecting Mask of the Phantasm or Sub-Zero. Instead, Batman and Harley Quinn revs up the humor. There’s also a more mature feel. In the opening scene, Woodrue fights a team of cops and blood splatters the wall ominously. Later, there’s a moment of sexual tension between Grayson and Quinn.

The script is generally engaging, and I appreciate the lines which cater to an older audience. There’s a reference to “Captain Kirking” someone or being a player, and later a throwback to Little Shop of Horrors. These moments along with the animation, prove that this is a film for the generation that grew up watching Batman the Animated Series.

Similarly, the criminal teaming up with the good guys’ trope works well. Her interactions with Batman are stiff and uncomfortable, whereas she’s got something of an understanding with Nightwing.

The supervillain plan to turn humanity into plants is relevant, and the film is full of commentary on environmentalism. This resonated with me, and it’s an important theme. While the message jived with me, it was far too overt. A bit of subtlety would have been much appreciated. Instead, Batman and Harley Quinn takes the same route as Avatar.

Additionally, the humor is pretty hit or miss. Batman and Harley Quinn is undoubtedly a comedy, and shortly after the opening of the film, it devolves into what’s basically a series of joke set ups. Although some of these are solid, there’s some childish fare. One segment features fart jokes. It’s the same complaint I had with Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2. Humor is fine, but when it’s that immature it’s not even funny. There’s quite a lot of sexualization, but it doesn’t feel like fan service. Rather, this takes the form of setting up Quinn’s character.

Ultimately, Batman and Harley Quinn is a campy, goofy movie. The dynamic between Quinn, Grayson, and Batman makes for an entertaining romp, and its conservation message makes for a poignant commentary. While it’s not the masterpiece Mask of the Phantasm was, it’s a fun albeit flawed film.