While not all of Lego's stabs at media proliferation outside the toy box have been slam dunks -- seriously, a Rock Band tie-in? -- the company's flicks are usually on the ball. In addition to last year's The Lego Movie surpassing countless expectations, their one-off outings with geekdom's prized properties more often than not turn out to be delightful little diversions. From Star Wars to costumed crimefighters, these animated specials are playful, charming, and, in certain cases, better than "real" installments of the franchises they're sending up. Enter the exhaustingly-named Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League, which sees the world's finest protectors of the innocent pitted against their own warped doppelgangers. Boasting a 50-minute running length and the inclusion of an exclusive figure with its Blu-ray/DVD combo, this pint-sized adventure will likely be written off by many as a shameless commercial. But although I'm sure the fine folks at Lego wouldn't mind Bizarro League ushering a few dollars its way, the filmette is still a very fun watch that gives viewers plenty of good-natured ribbing at the expense of its heroic ensemble.

Our story begins in Metropolis, where a particular caped Kryptonian is raising a ruckus. But it's not Superman (voice of Nolan North) who's to blame; rather, it's Bizarro (also North), the Man of Steel's backwards-thinking clone. Bizarro fancies himself a do-gooder, but when he racks up more property damage than saved citizens, Superman escorts him off-world to help him stay out trouble. However, the dimwitted double can't avoid danger even in the furthest reaches of outer space, as he quickly comes across the villainous Darkseid (voice of Tony Todd). With the alien overlord plotting an attack on Earth, Bizarro takes matters into his own hands, using the cloning device that created him to whip up duplicates of the Justice League's members. Soon, Wonder Woman (voice of Kari Wahlgren), Batman (voice of Troy Baker), and other heroes come face to face with these strange counterparts, though they'll have to learn to settle their differences quickly if they hope to send Darkseid back where he came from.

Children will be sufficiently entertained by all the action and comedy  Bizarro League offers, but parents needn't worry about the flick skimping on the moral vegetables. While a little heavy-handed at times, lessons about not judging books by their covers are cleverly integrated into the story. Bizarro is no bad guy; he's just misunderstood, and he truly strives to help others (though doing so ends up with a ton of stuff getting smashed to literal pieces). Even the Justice League's own heroes have some trust issues to work out with one another, with Batman constantly wary of Superman and his alien heritage. It's a nod to the Dark Knight's loner attitude that fits right in with the movie's self-aware manner, just one of many instances played for yuks for the kids and for subtle drama for those with an extra decade or so of watching comic-based capers under their utility belts. Sure, more could've been done with the League's clones embodying the flip sides of their individual personalities (with maybe two exceptions, all of the Bizarro doubles act virtually the same), but their antics remain engaging. Thankfully, the Lego charm emerges in full effect here, giving us amusing pratfalls, surprisingly kinetic action, and cast members who have a blast voicing both the regular heroes and their uncouth counterparts.

All in all, Bizarro League isn't as satisfying as the Lego Batman flick from a couple of years back, but it's a swell time, regardless. With its colorful visuals, crazy characters, and zany jokes, tykes are sure to get a kick out of it, although there's enough material here to tickle the fancy of adults, too. For those a touch too young to see something of The Dark Knight's gritty caliber, Bizarro League seems ideal for one's inaugural plunge into that great, big pool of superhero cinema.

(Released by Warner Home Video; not rated by MPAA.)