Batmon vs Majuro - Communal Comedy
Thoughts On: Batmon vs Majuro (2016)
Made by Jack Niedenthal, Ben deBrum Wakefield & Vivian Niedenthal, this is the Marshallese film of the series.
Batmon vs Majuro is a playful parody of the Batman character, a guerrilla film made in a small communal context between friends. Technically, it is proficient enough to move the story along and present a narrative with imagery from the doorstep of the filmmakers, which is admirable and enjoyable. Much more need not be said other than this is a homemade production, but nonetheless a feature film, that refuses to be as limited in narrative as it is location and technology.
The collision of the Batman character and quaint setting of Majuro, the capital city of the archipelagos that make up the Marshall Islands, produces a humorous reflection of the usual Batman in the big evil city. Where Batman is usually prepared with his tech, has covert means of transport, and fights supervillains trying to destroy the world, here he confronts petty theft, running about looking for air conditioning between taxi rides to local restaurants, karaoke and bingo. All the while Batmon struggles with his weight and hunger, falling asleep constantly as he pursues a small gang of kakōļ (Marshallese term defining men who dress and act as women) henchmen who simply want to get their nails done. Shining through the meandering and pointless plot is an affirmation of how peaceful and quaint the islands are, with low levels of crime and only moderate issues with petty theft. In short, the film's humour and sentimentality arises from its presentation of a place where grandmas are most powerful. Batman is pretty pointless in this setting and the island in no need of a hero, much less a brooding anti-hero struggling with his morals.
Whilst this sentiment can be found plain in Batmon vs Majuro, the script does not take particular hold of it and therefore distracts itself with simple comedy rather than the development of character arcs that witness a significant change in the situations of the film or the outlook of characters. This is most overt with the 'villains'. There is something to be found in the fact that masculinity is very muted in this film, with most male characters dressed as women or being children; and, of course, in place of Superman is a grandma with mystic powers. These dynamics echo a strong matrilineal culture in the Marshall Islands. However, there is no reason or direction behind the drama concerning Catwoman and the villains; it seems she is bored and wants a kiss. With less dialogue explaining the plot and more character development, the comedic reflection of Batman in paradise could have been more substantial. But, as is, Batmon vs Majuro is a peek into quotidian island life through the eyes of fat Batman.
