With the franchise in serious jeopardy, it is only fitting that an animated children’s film using Lego blocks knows how to properly construct a Batman film.

“The Lego Batman Movie,” the outrageous spin-off to the 2014 animated masterpiece “The Lego Movie,” provides the troubled Batman franchise with some temporary relief. Following the dud “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and reports circulating about Ben Affleck being on the verge of completely dropping out of the film’s Batman spin-off, this unique and colorful twist to Batman’s world is completely refreshing.

Unlike the recent incarnations of the character in Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy, or more recently, Zack Snyder’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” Batman/Bruce Wayne (Will Arnett, Netflix’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events”) is a comedic reimagining of the popular superhero. The depressed, serious and dark nature of the character is replaced with egomaniacal, witty and cynical characteristics that make the character enjoyable for both children and adults.

After a spectacular thwarting of the Joker’s (Zach Galifianakis, “Baskets”) plan to blow up the Lego version of Gotham City, along with all of his other enemies, Batman basks in the city’s appreciation of him.

However, behind the doors of Wayne Manor, the hero lives in isolation, a longstanding trait of Wayne’s. It is Wayne’s inadvertent adoption of the orphan Richard “Dick” Grayson (Michael Cera, “Sausage Party”) that forces him to embrace the people in his life, such as his father-figure butler Alfred Pennyworth (Ralph Fiennes, “Kubo and the Two Strings”) and police commissioner Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson, “Luke Cage”).

This culminates when the Joker seeks his revenge for not being acknowledged by the hero as being his greatest enemy, prompting Batman to face his greatest challenge both physically and morally.

While “The Lego Batman Movie” may not surpass the brilliance of its predecessor, it is definitely on par and possesses its own identity. With all of the film’s tributes to Warner Brothers’ previous Batman films, the quick witted and sometimes risqué humor and the comedic genius of Arnett’s Batman, there is so much to enjoy about “The Lego Batman Movie.”

For once, the story of Batman is not a melancholy tale of good versus evil, but is a light-hearted story with ridiculous instances, bringing color to the hero’s typically dark world. For once, Batman is entertaining for reasons beyond being a vigilante crime-fighter, he is charming and hilarious.

The qualities that made “The Lego Movie” a critically acclaimed phenomenon reappear in this superhero spin-off, while managing to be unique in its own ways. Where the original possessed themes of structure over creativity and individuality, “The Lego Batman Movie” explores themes of selfishness, appreciation and, possibly the strongest theme of all, unity.

While the film is targeted for younger audiences, it teaches moviegoers of all ages a valuable lesson about what it truly means to be heroic. The morality within the colorful, ludicrous realm of the Lego universe is a wonderful trait quality that allows the films to resonate so deeply.

Given the mediocre nature of “The Dark Knight Rises” and the atrocity that was “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “The Lego Batman Movie” is a major win for the Batman franchise, DC Comics and Warner Brothers. This non-traditional Batman film manages to unintentionally outclass many of its predecessors while poking fun at the franchise. With an intriguing team of characters and a highly engaging story, “The Lego Batman Movie” achieves the feat of being the best Batman film since 2008’s “The Dark Knight.”

This animated spectacle is not the Batman movie people need, it is the one people deserve.