The Lego Batman Movie mostly proves that this franchise has already descended into a disappointing formula. These movies flash a subversive hook, then straighten it out as they streak along.

The result is an ideal movie for the school holidays, one that children of all ages will rock along with (Batman fancies his own singing) and adults will laugh at.

Emotion can reside in the unlikeliest packages. But there's not a lot of it on show here. The animation, however, is terrific and fans of the original should love it.

Constructed to wallop the audience with rambunctious eye candy and faux-edgy licks of humor, ‘The Lego Batman’ is a step down from its inspired predecessor.