Batman and Harley Quinn Blu-ray™ Review

It’s hard to believe that it’s the 25th Anniversary of Batman: The Animated Series and the creation of Harley Quinn, but 25 years down the line an exciting new original story from the series’ creator, Bruce Timm, Batman and Harley Quinn has arrived on Blu-ray™ and DVD, an animated movie that sees Batman and Nightwing teaming up with Harley in an effort to defeat Poison Ivy and Jason Woodrue (a.k.a. The Floronic Man) as they embark on an ecological quest to save the planet – and, unfortunately, eliminate most of humankind along the way.

But will Harley turn on her BFF, Poison Ivy, to help save the day or will she put Batman’s patience to the test with her craziness during their bumpy road trip?

Batman and Harley Quinn – An Animated Laugh-fest!

OK, let me start by saying I love Batman: The Animated Series and have also become a fan of the many animated movies over the years, so to see the characters working together in Batman and Harley Quinn is brilliant. It’s so nice to hear Kevin Conroy (Batman/Bruce Wayne) and Loren Lester (Nightwing) together on this movie and it felt very nostalgic, back when Conroy and Lester were working together on the animated series as Batman and Robin, then Nightwing when Dick Grayson hung up the cape and mask.

Batman and Harley Quinn - Nightwing, Harley Quinn and Batman

Nightwing, Harley Quinn and Batman

Sometimes a team should always work together on a movie, much like in The Killing Joke with Conroy and Mark Hamill as the Joker, this goes for Batman and Harley Quinn as well.

Harley Quinn / Harleen Quinzel is played by Melissa Rauch, she certainly brings the craziness of Harley to the animated movie, with her vocal talents bringing the character to live in the movie. As with any version of Harley on the screen, she certainly has those comedic moments that had me laughing out loud, maybe she doesn’t have the Joker to bounce off with the gags, but hey she can stand on her own in this one with the one-liners etc. Look out for the scene with her in the back of the Batmobile with Batman and Nightwing, priceless!

But apart from the laughs that are brought to the screen by Harley and some from Nightwing and Batman via their responses to her the animated movie has everything that would expect from a good Batman movie, a bit of raunchiness, lots of ass kicking fight scenes and action that keeps you gripped through the 74 minute movie.

Batman and Harley Quinn - Floronic Man and Poison Ivy

Floronic Man and Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy (Paget Brewster, Criminal Minds) comes across as a villain that may be trying to good in her own crazy way that she only knows how by saving the world by turning everyone into plants, is that the only way to do it, add to the mix Floronic Man / Jason Woodrue (Kevin Michael Richardson, American Dad) as the spark to the flame as it were. A character that has his own agenda to Poison Ivy creating a formula to take over the world.

I loved the idea of Swamp Thing (John DiMaggio, Futurama) coming into the storyline, let’s be honest if you’re going to be heading to a swamp who else would you like to see there, although a small part in the film, it comes off big!

Batman and Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn

Written by Bruce Timm and directed by Sam Liu, these stalwarts of the Batman animated movies have brought us a comical animated film. It is different to the darker moments of Batman with the comedic side from Harley, heck even the opening credits are crazier than normal, but they work for the feature.

Batman and Harley Quinn – Blu-ray™ Special Features

  • The Harley Effect
  • Loren Lester: In His Own Voice
  • A Sneak Peak at DC Universe’s Next Animated Movie
    Batman: Gotham by Gaslight
  • 2 Bonus Cartoons

Batman and Harley Quinn is out now on Digital Download and Blu-ray and DVD, including limited edition Blu-ray™ Steelbook and Harley Quinn mini-figure variants.

3.5