Initially shelved as part of a tax write-off by good ol' Warner Bros. (it's not the first time they've axed a fully finished product), 'Merry Little Batman (2023)' was thankfully picked up by MGM and popped onto Prime just in time for Yuletide. You'd think that the piece would be, I don't know, bad or something considering the studio felt it worthy of the bin in the same year they released 'The Flash (2023)', but I'm glad to say that it's actually rather delightful. It's a really nice surprise, a cute and comedic animated adventure that focuses on Damian Wayne and his efforts to prove to his dad that he's ready to be Batman. It's a low-stakes but engaging experience that's frequently funny and generally really entertaining. It feels sort of like an extended television episode, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It has its own distinct aesthetic and sense of humour, both of which are similar to irreverent cartoons such as Regular Show (2010 - 2017) and Adventure Time (2010 - 2018). It does have a few lulls in pacing, notably as it heads towards its final movement (thankfully, the last act picks back up), and it is relatively generic overall. However, it feels like a fully-realised creative vision and it isn't afraid to have some fun with its source material (there are plenty of tongue-in-cheek references to obscure, and not so obscure, Batman lore). The characters are well-realised and enjoyable, brought to life with confident voice work from some unexpected actors (who'd have thought Luke Wilson would be a genuinely good fit for the role?). Ultimately, this is a really fun and wholesome family-friendly adventure that's actually a really refreshing break from the homogeneous and typically bland atmosphere that hangs over most recent DC movies. This is honestly one of the studio's best modern efforts, as pleasantly entertaining as it is purposefully small. It's a good thing that MGM fished this out of DC's bin, but I don't think it's necessarily the best place to look for another surprise hit.
Review of Merry Little Batman
