Movie Review: Batman: Hush

Batman: Hush

DIrector: Justin Copeland

Starring: Jason O’Mara, Jennifer Morrison, Stuart Allan, Sachie Alessio, Geoffrey Arend, Chris Cox, James Garrett, Adam Gifford, Peyton List, Sean Maher, Jerry O’Connell, Rebecca Romijn, Jason Spisak, Maury Sterling, Tara Strong, Bruce Thomas, Hynden Walch, Vanessa Williams, Rainn Wilson

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 81 minutes

Since DC began producing animated film versions of famous comics years ago, fans have been very vocal about the various graphic novels and storylines they want to see adapted.  In terms of Batman stories, Hush has been one of the most frequently requested and that wish has finally been granted.  Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s storyline is arguably the most popular Bat-tale of the century (I’d say rivaled only by Under the Red Hood and Grant Morrison’s run, if the latter is taken as a whole) so the film version arrived to a great deal of anticipation.  If anyone’s wondering if the film will match or even exceed the reputation of its source material (as the Under the Red Hood adaptation arguably did) the answer is almost certainly no, partially because of the changes it makes to that material, some minor, some surprisingly significant.  Still, if one can look past these differences, they’ll find a quietly enjoyable film that gets the heart of the comic story right, while even making some of its own additional points and observations.

Hush the movie contains many examples of the drawbacks that come with fitting a film into a connected universe.  As timeless as it has proven to be the Hush comic is still a product of its time, which relies on the long, complicated history of the post-Crisis Batman for added emotional impact.  Rather than a standalone feature, the film is the latest in the interconnected, “New 52”-inspired DC Animated Movie Universe, and as such must make several alterations to the comic story to fit in the DCAMU’s continuity.  Appearances from Jason Todd and Tim Drake are removed as are references to storylines not yet adapted like “No Man’s Land”.  There are some positive changes as well, however, like Barbara Gordon’s active role as Batgirl rather than her briefer appearances as Oracle in the comic, which mainly served to deliver exposition.  There’s also a major change to the story’s central mystery that will likely cause controversy.  Personally I liked the change if for no other reason than that it’s rare to be genuinely surprised by one of these direct-to-video features.  But I also don’t love Hush the comic as much as some other fans.  I can understand why said fans, having finally gotten one of their favorite stories adapted, would be disappointed that some of its most iconic elements are altered or removed.  The change also has a discreet but important effect on the end of the story’s main dramatic arc.  While the reveal of Hush’s identity in the comic serves to add to and then highlight Bruce’s paranoia, the ending of the film winds up revolving more around his compulsive behaviors as Batman and his moral code.   Neither theme is necessarily better than the other but the latter is more regularly explored in modern Bat-stories so the former made for a fresh and interesting change of pace.  By exploring the latter Hush the movie winds up repeating themes that are better addressed in other films.

The one area in which the film is undeniably successful is in the romance between Batman and Catwoman.  The voice acting in Hush is, for the most part, adequate, no more, no less.  But Jennifer Morrison makes for an excellent Selina Kyle, imbuing her with the perfect mix of sensuality, strength, and wit.  Jason O’Mara has also grown into the role of Batman nicely, even if a more emotionally versatile performer like Kevin Conroy or Bruce Greenwood might have been better suited for this particular story.  The writing also nails the dynamic between the two, making it clear why they have such a strong and long-lasting attraction to one another as well as highlighting how they have certain irreconcilable differences.

The bottom line is that the Hush film probably isn’t going to become a fan favorite or modern classic like its source material.  But, it works well as an alternate take on a familiar story and matches the comic for the emotional complexity it lends to the story of Batman and Catwoman.

Click here for more movie reviews