Merry Little Batman 4K 2023 2160p WEB-DL

A new hypostasis of the cult hero - a caring father. In the animated movie by Mike Roth ("Regular Show") Bruce Wayne (Luke Wilson) will go to the background, and the first will be his son Damian. The enterprising boy dreams of proving to his daddy that he will worthily continue the superhero family, so on Christmas Eve he becomes "Little Batman" and prepares to protect the family mansion from villains.

Merry Little Batman 4K Review
Batman, Batman, Batman. There’s so much Batman in the world today, it makes it difficult to encounter much freshness when it comes to the iconic character. But here comes “Merry Little Batman,” a holiday-themed adventure that turns the World’s Greatest Detective into the World’s Most Overprotective Dad, with son Damien the star of this animated feature, putting the little man in charge of saving Gotham from its worst, and most determined, enemies. Director Mike Roth presents an inspired take on the D.C. Universe with “Merry Little Batman,” which retains broad cartoon entertainment while still dealing with everything and anything Batman, giving the picture family appeal. It’s a funny, swiftly paced viewing event, doing something a little crazier with the world of the Caped Crusader, but it also reinforces seasonal feelings and care, giving this lively movie some heart.

Damien (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) is a spirited 8-year-old kid who loves to dress up as Batman and tear around his house. Such inspiration comes from his father, Bruce Wayne (Luke Wilson), who’s hung up his cowl as Batman after eliminating all crime in Gotham City, living a peaceful life with his son, joined by caretaker Alfred (James Cromwell). Gifting Damien is own utility belt on Christmas Eve, Batman is called back to duty after receiving word of strange happenings in Nova Scotia the Justice League can’t handle. He takes off on a quick mission, only to wreck the Batplane in the middle of nowhere, leaving him stranded. Damien enjoys having run of Wayne Manor, but soon encounters burglars Francine (Natalie Palamides) and Terry (Michael Fielding), who break into the dwelling, stealing the utility belt. Refusing to accept the loss of his treasured gift, Damien locates a Batsuit and pursues the home invaders, taking him on a wild chase through Gotham, encountering Joker (David Hornsby), Bane (Chris Sullivan), Poison Ivy (Theresa McLaughlin), and The Penguin (Brian George) along the way.

Damien lives to play Batman in Wayne Manor. He’s assembled a homemade version of the suit, using his vibrant imagination to create adventures for himself, including the pursuit of pet cat Selina, with the feline doing its best to evade the little superhero and his bottomless appetite for mischief. Damien can rest easy thanks to Batman, with Bruce retiring to domestic duties, growing a beard and wrapping presents as a doting father, with crime no longer an issue in Gotham (Arkham Asylum has been turned into a daycare center). However, Bruce isn’t ready to trust Damien with responsibility, and “Merry Little Batman” explores this tension between the father and son, with the kid looking for more danger, gifted a utility belt loaded with foam Batarangs instead, frustrating a boy who wants to be exactly like his dad.

For obvious reasons, Bruce is hesitant to expose Damien to danger, but he’s asked to set aside his childhood trauma to handle trouble in Nova Scotia, leaving his son with Alfred. “Merry Little Batman” offers a lively soundtrack to support Damien’s free spirit, and there’s hilarity in the boy’s plan to get Alfred to leave Wayne Manor on an important hot chocolate errand. The feature morphs into a “Home Alone” riff with the arrival of the burglars, who have no idea Bat-Kid is around, quickly bashed and battered as Damien gets to put his Dark Knight training to the test. The bad guys make off with the belt, putting Damien on the hunt, which requires access to the Batcave and his own suit, gifted help from a “Bat Dad” computer trying to keep the child safe. “Merry Little Batman” transforms into a more traditional D.C. adventure, with Joker arriving in the second half of the movie, enjoying a chance to toy with Batman’s son.

“Merry Little Batman” brings out a few of the superhero’s most famous villains, as Damien faces off against Joker (who’s very Grinch-like here), Bane, Poison Ivy, and The Penguin, with the baddies frustrated in their efforts to contain the kid, wrecking a Gotham Christmas parade in the process. Batman has his own issues with a particularly cold-blooded crook in the mountains, setting up some parental reflection for Bruce, while Damien receives a little enlightenment of his own, with the screenplay using the last act to deal with relationships before mayhem ensues. It’s not much, but there’s some emotion to experience, given a seasonal twist of compassion and joy, and it gives “Merry Little Batman” a chance to be a little more than just a fantastically animated, voiced, and imagined comedy. It also brings something slightly different to the fully explored world of Batman, which is a real gift for the holidays.