SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 1 Hour, 32 Min.
Released on Amazon Instant Video in December 2023, Mike Roth directed and co-wrote this original Warner Discovery animated film. Roth’s co-writers are Morgan Evans and Jase Ricci.
It is Christmas Eve in Gotham City. At Wayne Manor, the precocious Damian is ecstatic that his billionaire father, Bruce Wayne (aka a semi-retired Batman), has gifted him an early Christmas treasure: his first utility belt. Unexpectedly called away on an emergency rescue to the North Pole, Batman must first discipline his overzealous little boy and take away his prized new belt. Yet, some ominous sabotage later ensures that the Dark Knight is left stranded far from Gotham.
Having lured butler Alfred away, Damian intends to go on his first patrol as the future Batman. Yet, two conniving burglars choose to home-invade a suddenly vulnerable Wayne Manor in search of a treasure trove of loot. Having swiped his utility belt, the thugs barely escape Damian’s Home Alone-like wrath. Vengefully pursuing his enemies deep into Gotham City, a Bat-disguised Damian finds that he has unwittingly becomes a pawn of his father’s worst enemies.
With the clock ticking towards Christmas morning, Gotham is besieged by Damian’s inadvertent rampage. Worse yet, by ending up right where the bad guys want him, Damian is in for the fight of his life. Can even Damian’s legendary dad save him, not to mention Gotham’s Christmas, in time?
Primary Voice Cast:
Damian Wayne: Yonas Kibreab
Bruce Wayne/Batman: Luke Wilson
Alfred Pennyworth: James Cromwell
The Joker: David Hornsby
The Penguin: Brian George
Poison Ivy / Hostage / Citizen: Therese McLaughlin
Mr. Freeze: Dolph Adomian
Vicki Vale: Cynthia Kaye McWilliams
Bane: Chris Sullivan
Commissioner James Gordon: Reid Scott
Himself: DC Comics’ Carmine Infantino (archival voice footage)
Terry the Thief: Michael Fielding
Francine the Thief: Natalie Palamides
Department Store Santa / Scarecrow / Crazy Guy: Fred Tatasciore.
REVIEW:
One can presume that the scriptwriters lifted ideas from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, and Home Alone in this homage to family-friendly Christmas movies. Still, even a little Gotham holiday cheer goes a long way.
The storyline might have delighted more as a seven-minute short or a 22-minute animated TV episode (a full 45-minute diversion ought to have been the limit). There are still cute moments and consistently stellar backdrop imagery, but such assets can’t hide an exceedingly eye-rolling Bat-caper. However, Damian’s ridiculous crusade (more in line with Teen Titans Go!) is extended too far to make for a watchable feature film outside its intended kiddie audience.
More so, while the voice cast is on its game, their characters are crudely drawn more as parodies. Case in point: James Cromwell’s Alfred is so grotesquely depicted that it looks like he just stepped out of a “Far Side” comic strip. While parody and homage can be cleverly and even hilariously intertwined (i.e. Looney Tunes) by animation, nothing is gained the way Merry Little Batman’s characters are so disproportionately drawn. Had the animation style more closely resembled Batman: The Animated Series, the story’s charm would not have been lost.
Meant to be ultimately heartwarming, Merry Little Batman falls short of an instant holiday viewing tradition.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
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