Batman and Harley Quinn

• Directed by Sam Liu
• July 21, 2017 (San Diego Comic-Con) / August 14, 2017
• Based on Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Kane

Voice Cast

• Batman/Bruce Wayne-Kevin Conroy
• Harley Quinn/Dr. Harleen Quinzel-Melissa Rauch
• Nightwing/Dick Grayson-Loren Lester
• Poison Ivy/Pamela Isley-Paget Brewster
• Floronic Man/Jason Woodrue-Kevin Michael Richardson
• Sarge Steel, Swamp Thing/Alec Holland-John DiMaggio
• Wesley-Eric Bauza
• Charles ‘Rhino’ Daly-Robin Atkin Downes
• Bobby Liebowitz-Trevor Devall
• Dr. Harold Goldblum, Min and Max, Anderson-Rob Paulsen
• Project Supervisor-Mindy Sterling
• Booster Gold/Michael J. Carter-Bruce Timm

When Poison Ivy and the Floronic Man join forces, Batman and Nightwing enlist the aid of Harley Quinn who is trying to go straight.

Though stylized like The New Batman Adventures, Batman and Harley Quinn officially is not in that continuity. Why? Reasons though it is very easy to think otherwise. Nothing other than an attributed statement I found states its continuity. The jokes are more mature and it leans goofier than most New Batman or Batman: TAS though even those could get lighter. Things also get more adult here. There is profanity and sex-though just the before and after.

The weirdness comes due to the involvement of Harley Quinn because of her personal connection to Poison Ivy. Rather than just ask where Her Greenness might be, they bring Harley along because it makes sense to drag around a mentally unstable paroled criminal.  You see Ivy and Fluoronic have kidnapped a scientist to create a formula to turn to create a formula to turn all life into plant/animal hybrids.

There are few jokes with a setup and punchline. Most of the humor is strangeness that makes you laugh. One joke occurs in a supervillain sidekick hangout when Batman gets in a fight with some patrons seeking payback. In a nod to the classic ‘60s series, “BREAK!,” “BLEED!,” and “OW, MY BALLS!” instead of pop-ups like “BAM!” or “POW!” Other jokes include a return call from Booster Gold where Bats and Nightwing make it clear that Booster or any of his suggestions for assistance are people they do not want to be around.

I know the moment was meant to be humorous, but you have a possible threat to all life on Earth, and you won’t take any help because they are not cool enough for you? Or you just don’t wanna hang out with them? Perhaps the dumbest scene in the entire film. It makes absolutely no sense. It also brings into question if Batman thought he could handle it all alone then why did he even put in a call to the Justice League?

Batman is the straight man, Harley Quinn is the wacky sidekick, and Nightwing is essentially the bridge between the pair. It is the basic setup of many mismatched buddy comedies. Batman’s uptight nature contrasts with Harley’s wild persona with Batman and even Nightwing by the end learning to loosen up a bit by the end.

Sam Liu, Bruce Timm, and Jim Krieg work hard to make it clear to the audience that Ivy and the Fluoronic Man are not evil for wanting to save the planet by turning everyone into hybrids but more incorrect on how they are going about it. “It is wrong that they might kill 7 billion people, but their hearts are in the right place.” It is a modern trope where the villain is not entirely wrong if wrong at all.

In what is meant to be lighthearted superhero romp, there’s a more serious than expected moment. Early in the film when they find the scientist he gets killed. He’s a very minor character that you know almost nothing about, yet the scene is so well done that you get a little bit of a ping, mostly because the animation of the characters in the somber voice performance. 

Post credits scenes are quite popular. Usually they are something additional yet not necessary for the story. Here that vignette IS important because it is the resolution of THE WHOLE MOVIE! The cheek kiss is the setup and not a worthy finish. I was unaware on my initial viewing and when watching it again for this post, I simply had not turned off my player only to find it by accident.

Taken as an independent Batman feature it’s a little on the weak side. Taken as an extension of the animated Batman mythos it’s excellent. I enjoyed myself. I found the dialogue witty and the return of the of the majority of the voice actors with the addition of Melissa Rauch as Harley Quinn worked quite well. 

I enjoyed Batman and Harley Quinn. It was fun and though it had a few elements that didn’t work it was enjoyable movie.