REVIEW: 6857 The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape

[Clone OPatra]

It's been a while since I did a review, so I might be a little rusty. But never fear, this set is so FUN that my reviewing technique will be masked by FUNness. That's right, it's the…

Set Name: The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape (what a mouthful)

Set #: 6857

Theme: Superheroes

Subtheme: DC Superheroes

Subsubtheme: Batman!

Parts: 380

Minifigures: 5

Year of Release: 2012

Price at Release: USD 40, GBP 40, CAD 50, AUD 90, EUR 50 (varied)

Buy it? Inventory? Bricklink LEGO

Just browse the picture? Flickr set

INTRODUCTION

Apparently, this set is proving a little bit troublesome for good folks out there to get their grubby paws on. Some speculate that the reason for its rarity is that (in the US) it's a TRU exclusive, or that LEGO didn't make enough, or that LEGO is correcting minifigure printing errors, or something. But I say hooey. I say that this set is a wee bit rare for the very reason that I bought it: because it looks awesome. I'm not a huge Batman fan; I wasn't running out to get all of the new sets, and I only ever got the small Catwoman set back in the day. But the Funhouse called my name. So many figures. So many colors, such an apparently good price. Lucky me, there were plenty of copies of it when I got to the LEGO store. So let's see, is this set worthy of being rare?

BOX

Maybe I will take box pictures at some point. Key word: maybe. I don't have a studio setup big enough for them right now. The box is nice, fairly large, prominently displays minifigures, looks FUN, etc. Nice packaging.

INSTRUCTIONS

The front of these is the same as the box (so you get some insight into the box, yay). It's got the bright Funhouse set on a very dingy junkyard/industrial background, which makes sense, but also doesn't. What is this weird, popping, open-air structure doing in the middle of a brown junkyard? Logically, this set should be a slice from inside a building, sort of, but don't think about it too much. Comics don't make sense, so neither should this set.

Steps are very slow, which makes the single booklet quite thick. I like a nice thick booklet, though. It makes the build feel substantial, and this one actually is, so it's all good. Now that black is outlined in white, color differentiation is no problem. The one odd thing about the build is that the minifigures come in different numbered bags, so you don't build them all at the beginning. Maybe this way keeps the kiddies more interested!

In the back there is a page with CG play features, each of which is actually significant (unlike in SW, where taking off a cockpit counts as a play feature). These are similar to pictures on the back of the box, but on the box the pics look more like they are of physical LEGO (though they are more likely renderings). The box ones look better to me.

There is also this ad for LEGO Batman 2 in which very skinny Superman is about to bowl over Batman. Good stuff.

The parts take a double spread, but I didn't photograph them. Go look them up on Bricklink or something.

COMIC BOOK

There is one. It's as big dimension-wise as the instruction booklet, but it isn't very impressive. There's nothing wrong with it per se, but it's just the type of thing that used to be in a LEGO Magazine or something like that. There is really no reason for it to be its own separate booklet; it could've just been in the back of the instructions as some comics used to be (in the original SW line, for instance).

Yeah, I didn't take any pictures of it.

MINIFIGURES

Alright people, fess up. How many of you bought/want this set just for the minifigures? Well I didn't, which is rare. The thing is that this set is about both the minifigures and the set (unlike in SW again where they make you buy a set for the minifigures and throw in a craptastic cannon that nobody wants so Hasbro won't sue their pants off).

There's no denying that these are a bunch of beauts. I present you with my favored sides for them first (besides Robin; I love both faces on him). These are all great. Like, seriously, no complaints. Harley is cute, Joker looks wicked, Riddler is Riddler, Robin looks smug, and Batman just looks crazy hyper. What I really like about these is that none of them look too serious (why so serious, right?). I don't have many of the old figures, but it seemed like their faces especially were kind of… dark. Batman certainly was. These are just amazing.

Here are all the reverse faces (besides for Riddler who doesn't have one). I don't much like the reverse Harley and Joker faces; they're alright, but it looks like they were doing big smiles for a camera and the picture was taken at the wrong time. I'm not wild about this side of Bats either, but I guess he has to be serious some time. The scared Robin face is amazing; it cracks me up. Riddler needs some love in text still, so I'll mention how awesome his hat is and that he has purple hands. They could've gone grey on the hands, but purple looks so cool! Props to LEGO for that.

We got some back printing up in here. Nothing totally mind-blowing, but still nice to have all around. I like Joker the best; those back-of-coat buttons are impressive. You can see that Robin's printing is a little messed up, but I can't say I'm throwing a nitty fit about it. It's not like I look back there much anyway.

Only two face prints get obscured by headgear, so I've revealed them for you. Batman is in his classic 'workout' outfit. I'll echo others in saying that LEGO should've done one side with the white bandana eyes and the other with just a normal Bruce Wayne face (throwing in the hair, of course). I would've liked to see this stern side without the bandana and the gung ho side with.

ACCESSORIES

The amount of accessories in this set isn't stellar. It's basically one each, but not even because the handcuffs and fish don't really go with Harley and Robin. Back in the old Bats sets old Batty would get tons of accessories and the bad guys all had machine guns, but here Bats gets one measly Batarang and all Joker gets is a walkie-talkie. Who's he talking to anyway, his mother? I understand why they gave the crowbar to Riddler, since it sort of looks like a question mark, but that's lame. They should've molded him a special cane. The crowbar just looks like a crowbar. The barrel is great, though, and it has two trans green cylinders in it as well.

BUILD

No in-build pictures, sorry. The build is pretty straight-forward, but there are so many different things here and there to build that it stays fun the whole way through.

BATPOD

It wouldn't be a Batman set without a vehicle for Batman, now would it? NOPE. That's why we get this… interesting… vehicle for Batman. I really don't know why I'm being mean to this vehicle. It's barebones but it looks neat and rolls like a charm. The bit of dark blue and shark fins on the back are pretty nice too.

The one thing that's not great about it is how big it is. I don't know what the designer was going for, but the vehicle ended up rather long and kind of clunky. It's hard to make a small single-person vehicle in LEGO without using illegal connections or very creative techniques, and it shows in the size of this vehicle.

Another problem is that, like nearly every Batman vehicle, it messes with Batman's cape. You can almost position the cape behind the chair so that it doesn't get crumpled, but not quite. I wouldn't want to leave Batman with his cape on this ride for too long.

I guess the one upside is that it looks like Batman's cape is blowing in the wind.

FUNHOUSE

This is the one and only time you are going to see the entire thing in a shot, since my setup isn't quite big enough. With the track coming out, this set does take up quite a footprint. What can I say on this overview? This set really POPs, and in a perfectly realisticish way. The dark tan and brown really blend together well with the bright colors to create a true-to-life carny style. It's so pleasantly colorful in a way that isn't over the top.

There is so much going on here too; just look at all of those different things! Let me point out here too how many big parts there are: the staircase, rail parts, big wall pieces. Typically, this many big pieces would lead to a low piece count for a set, but the FUNhouse still has 380 pieces! Amazing!

The back is really quite bare, and there isn't much to do here. There is a little bit of room underneath to put the minifigures, but not much. I don't mind this, though. This is the rare type of set (like the Batcave) that doesn't exactly need an 'interior.'

FUNHOUSE - Guided Tour

Let's take a look around this place, ok? Ok. We'll start with the Riddler box on the bottom left. This is clearly styled after a traditional "pay a little money, get some weird advice" thing, although of course, it's a Riddler head in there. I don't know if this is actually out of any Batman source material, but LEGO has styled it quite nicely with a mix of green, trans green, dark green, and white. Certainly quite Riddler. Do note that on the box, Riddler has a different head and there's no green brick under him. I wish we had got a different head, but oh well.

The other side is quite bare. The sticker on the panel is lovely and carnyish, but other than that there's not much to see here. I don't understand why there is a railing piece at the back, nor why there are 2x2 black jumper plates between the red wall panels. One could stick the barrel or position figures on them, I guess.

Now, the upstairs. I love all of the different colors from the different villains coming together here; they surprisingly don't clash too much. The new railing pieces used at the front make excellent curvature on the model. There are so many things to see here; let's get to it!

I'll start with Riddler land on the right. First, a classic trap door. I have removed some pieces so you can see it better, but there are no problems accessing it with all the pieces there.

It's simple; pull the pin and Robin goes blamo. But wouldn't that help him escape the FUNhouse? Seems like more of an easy exit than a trap to me. Maybe it's just to not let Batman save him.

There is a really nice design element to this trapdoor: they put a smooth bottom piece on just one of the sides, so with the pin in on the same side the trapdoor sits flush with the part around it. It isn't quite as clever as the awesome trapdoor in the Flying Ninja's Fortress (since this pin still comes out), but it's always nice when the trapdoor sits flush. With the Danger Ahead sign and an arrow, though, it's pretty blatant that the door is there.

Up above is Riddler's crane, from which he dangles Robin. I love the white arch pieces here, and the use of brown on the arm part to make it look wooden. The one element I don't understand is the use of this piece on the left side. I've put Riddler on it, which I guess might be what it's for, but I'm still a little unclear on why it's there.

What makes this crane especially nice is that no old-school threading is necessary! I was worried that because it doesn't use an actual threaded part, there wouldn't be enough friction and with a minifigure on it would just fall, but that doesn't happen! You can crank it to any position!

Now for Joker's (or Harley's, but if it was then Joker wouldn't have anything) little pad. Yeah, there's some dust on it, get over it. Honestly, I wasn't sure what this was when I was building the set and I'm still not. I know what it does, though.

You put on a minifigure and turn the knob on the back, like so.

The problem is that with a minifigure pressed down normally, one turn won't do it. So, you turn that little knob back and forth a few times, and presto! The minifigure plops off. Most logically, this is another way to either break people's necks or stop Batman from doing something. In the comic book, Joker jumps on one side and launches Harley away, but that doesn't make any sense at all, so I'll stick with my version.

HAMMERTIME! The other play features so far have worked, but this one works like a charm and is so much fun! What could be more FUN than smashing minifigures with a giant hammer? Nothing! Each time I did this, Robin went a different distance, but that might've been due to how hardly I pressed him down on the jumper. If you only put him on lightly, he'll really go flying!

Finally, we get to Harley's cart. In the comic, this is used as an escape vehicle for Joker and Harley, which I think makes the most sense. They certainly wouldn't be launching Batman and Robin away, because then they could escape! But again, maybe every play feature in here is just to stop Batman from rescuing Robin.

Push the knob, and WHEE goes the cart! Simple and effective!

Down on the rails we get this little Joker doorway, which is the one flaw in this set. It was a nice idea and all, since amusement park cart rides often have opening doors along the way, but these NEEDED to be printed. With stickers, it's nearly impossible to get these to match up well. I tried for a long time, and still doesn't look great.

It's still fun ripping Joker's head apart, though!

WHOLE SET and CONCLUSION

Alright, the gang's all here. We've got a nice big building, rails, a Batman vehicle, a full cast of characters. Just look at the picture above. Doesn't that look cool? Yes, yes it does. The Funhosue simultaneously is wonderfully colorful and realistic, built on large pieces while still having a high piece count and not feeling <insert that tiresome argument>. There is so much about this set for everyone: pieces in cool colors (like purple) for parts lovers, five wonderful minifigures for minifigure lovers all unique or available for a lower price than in their other sets, and a great-looking model for people who like to display sets as they come. Plus, there's a sticker sheet for sticker lovers! Hooray!

I'm really getting tired of the grey, grey, and grey in Star Wars sets, so this set comes as a much needed dose of colors. It's hard to find many faults in this set. 7666, another 'rare' set, was nice and all, but this is amazing.

RATINGS

Parts: 10/10 - Big parts, small parts, cool colors, less cool colors, and 380 parts! Superb!

Build: 10/10 - With all of the different sections in this set, the build never gets dull.

Design: 9/10 - I had to dock one because of the Joker door stickers. Those were supremely annoying. The Batpod is also a little weak, but it's excusable in light of the wonderful Funhouse.

Minifigures: 9/10 - The double headband on Bats is annoying, and the wide-mouth sides of Harley and Joker are a little weird. But the lineup of figures is undeniably great (as is Robin).

Price: 10/10 - This is a steal in the US. The price is truly right.

Playability: 10/10 - There is so much to do, this is almost like an ultimate playable set. All of the features work well too.

Overall: 9.7/10 - Go get this. Really. Do it. Unless you are really opposed to superheroes or pleasantly bright colors, you can't be disappointed.

[def]

I'm really looking forward to getting this set, and at the American price (it's selling for double that in Japan). Your review makes it all that more interesting looking I've been on the fence about picking up the Batcave, and I think I'll forgo it, since there is a Robin in this set. Poison Ivy isn't worth throwing out a $100.

The only question is why this very desirable set was made an exclusive, and why the price is better than the rest of the line, when exclusives tend to be well over-priced...

[The Penguin]

Now that's something I've been waiting for!

Thanks a lot for making that wonderful review, COP!

That is so far the only set I do not have, so I was rather thrilled to have a look at it and read what you think of it. The set indeed looks great and I don't even mind odd-looking HQ. The Riddler is a bit out of place to my taste and I would really love to see two Joker goons instead.

Another thing that caught my eye is lack of assesories. I mean mostly such nice little things like bat-grapples, joker cards, HQ hammer, etc. In that matter older sets were much better, to my mind. They sure tried to add some fan-stuff like the fish which is a definite nod to The Laughing Fish BTAS episode, but overall the set lacks assesories for sure. The crowbar looks very much out of place here, unless you give it to Joker and leave him with Robin alone. (Unintentional nod to Death in the Family ark, where Joker beats Robin to death with a crowbar).

And speaking of Robin, am I the only one who doesn't find his face good? The smug is just terrible and the scared (why scared? I'd rather have a pissed off version!) face is just too comical! However, I guess it's a matter of taste.

Thanks again gor this review! )

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

Edited March 9, 2012 by The Penguin

[just2good]

Excellent review!

You captured the play functions of the set perfectly. It's a shame this set is so rare, though.

The only gripe I have with this set is the quality of the figures and the mine cart function, since the gates usually fall off, and the cart stops randomly.

Edited March 9, 2012 by just2good

[Sir_Basil_Ashton]

Thanks for the very thorough review. I really like how you covered the different play features of this set. It was nice to see pictures of a set actually getting played with.

[XimenaPaulina]

Excellent review CloneyO! As always the presentation is top-notch and I enjoyed your signature style of commentary.

I was really on the fence on getting this set, but this review just reconfirms my initial impression that this set is worth getting. For its $40 price tag this is certainly a great value set, so even if I was planning on saving bucks for the upcoming SW, LOTR, and Marvel sets, I think this will be a 'good investment', either for my own personal consumption or for re-selling in the future.

[WhiteFang]

Clonie, this is a very nicely done review! I was looking forward to see you completing this and also wanting to get this soon. To see so many classic Batman characters in this medium sized set, is certainly up for grabs!

Thank you for doing this up!

[Lyichir]

Good review! I think the piece on the side of the crane is for "locking" the winch at a certain height. It looks like it would hold that gear in place if you jammed it between the gear teeth. Not sure how loose the winch itself is, so I'm not sure how essential this function is.

Also molding a new staff for the Riddler would probably be an unwelcome expense given that it would only appear in this one set. But I do agree that the crowbar piece is underwhelming. Perhaps if it were molded in a decidedly not-a-crowbar color, like purple or gold, it would look better?

[CorneliusMurdock]

Awesome review. So much to love about this set and you showcased it all quite nicely. I'll go index it now.

I'm actually hoping to get this set quite soon (My sister is visiting this weekend and promised to stop at a Lego Store on her way out of town. Though I may have to return the favor by preparing her taxes.)

[Mr. Elijah Timms]

I think I really AM the only one who likes the oversized Batcycle/Pod... What I did was turn down the Technic joints even closer to the back wheel, but then turn the gray 'sharkfin' pieces further out to the outside, creating this beautiful little line that just cradles above the tire without hitting it. I also turned the rounded joint pieces used for the axles inside out, giving the outside of the wheels a straight up flat black surface. I think it looks pretty great, to be honest.

Either way, excellent review for an excellent set. SO MUCH FUN to build!

[Clone OPatra]

Thanks everyone for your nice comments! I'm glad I could provide you with this in-depth look at the Funhouse!

Thanks a lot for making that wonderful review, COP!

The Riddler is a bit out of place to my taste and I would really love to see two Joker goons instead.

You're welcome! I know Riddler might be a little out of place, but he's more attractive to a very casual fan like myself than some random goons would be. The goon in the Batwing set is nice, but I like having Riddler better since he is more of a character (and we get two bowler hats).

The only gripe I have with this set is the quality of the figures and the mine cart function, since the gates usually fall off, and the cart stops randomly.

What exactly is wrong with the quality of the figures? Besides for a minor printing smudge here and there (which happens on most minifigures, to be honest), I see nothing wrong. I have never had that problem with the gates. On a flat surface, the cart has never broken off the gates and it always goes to about the end.

For its $40 price tag this is certainly a great value set, so even if I was planning on saving bucks for the upcoming SW, LOTR, and Marvel sets, I think this will be a 'good investment', either for my own personal consumption or for re-selling in the future.

It's certainly a good investment. The minifigures alone are currently going for more than $40 on Bricklink. It's a great deal (I can only speak for the U.S., though).

I think the piece on the side of the crane is for "locking" the winch at a certain height. It looks like it would hold that gear in place if you jammed it between the gear teeth. Not sure how loose the winch itself is, so I'm not sure how essential this function is.

Also molding a new staff for the Riddler would probably be an unwelcome expense given that it would only appear in this one set. But I do agree that the crowbar piece is underwhelming. Perhaps if it were molded in a decidedly not-a-crowbar color, like purple or gold, it would look better?

Ah, interesting about what that piece does. You're probably right, though as I wrote you don't need to lock it for it to stay. I agree that the staff might have been an extra expense, but I feel like it's the type of thing that LEGO will do the next time they release Riddler. I can imagine a Riddler themed set in a year or two that comes with the staff. A pearl gold crow-bar would have been a better option than red, but that too would require molding the piece in a new color and might be somewhat costly (though of course less costly than a new mold).

I think I really AM the only one who likes the oversized Batcycle/Pod...

I like it. I never said I didn't. It's just a bit clunky, but I don't really have a problem with that. It's a cartoonish vehicle anyways. My one legitimate problem with it is that it messes with Batman's cape.

[lightningtiger]

AWESOME review 'Clone O'Patra', I'll be buying two of these this year when they finally arrive in Oz....one for me and one for my son !

Why is it that Bat's is always tough and Robin can be broken eh ?

Those minifigs make the set, and I guess why it hasn't been released in Oz is that it would leave all the Batcaves on the shelves !

Bat-brick On Bat-review On 'Clone O'Patra' (I might try some of your reviewing tricks in my third academy review....once Fangy has gone over number two ) !

[SoupOrFishOil]

Thanks for the review. I can't wait to get my copy! I have a question though; when did you purchase/recieve this set? (I'm hoping that later produced versions will have fewer minifigure mistakes.)

[Clone OPatra]

I have a question though; when did you purchase/recieve this set? (I'm hoping that later produced versions will have fewer minifigure mistakes.)

I purchased the set in late January or very early February.

[Capt. Redblade]

Good review!

I got this and the 6864 Two-Face Chase for Christmas, and, even though the TFC is the bigger set, the Funhouse was hands-down the highlight of the holiday. If any of you are on the fence about the Funhouse, stop it right now and go buy this damn set!

Clone-o is right about the lack of accessories, but if anyone still has the original Batman sets, just steal weapons from those. It worked for me. If you can't, just Bricklink 'em.

[JackJonespaw]

Great review! This is probably one of the most reviewed sets on EB, but that's because it's so great!

[jedikermit]

That is a very fun review--thanks! Now to find the thing...

[Remus_Lupin]

Thanks for a wonderful review - I was on the fence about getting the set (have been on the theme as a whole) but I think you just generated another sale for TLG

The set is already good value before you consider double VIP points on S@H if ordered before the 15th.

[Darkdragon]

Great review, Great set. I have already bought it twice and will probably buy again if I see it available during a sale.

[Arsenalfan98]

Excellent review "Clone O'Patra" I really want to get this set after seeing all of the reviews but its nearly impossible to find offline (no lego stores in Ireland ) .

[Mr_Malfoy]

Well, since this review was bumped up, I have to say, great review, Clone O' Patra !

I simply love everything about this set !

I was so lucky to get this set before it sold out.

[Parrothead Rasmus]

Quick question: is Quinn's jester hat and The Riddler's bowler cap made of chinese plastic?

Thanks!

[Clone OPatra]

The jester hat comes in it's own separate baggie. The bowler hat does not.

HOWEVER, this notion of 'chinese plastic' is purely speculative no matter what. While it's a nice supposition that everything that comes in it's own separate baggie comes from China, this cannot actually be the case because there has been at least one set (the PoP Ostrich Race) that had those special baggies and did not list China as a country of manufacture. Likewise, there are parts that first appeared in the collectible minifigure line that are now in sets, and do not come in their own bags. Since we know for a fact that the collectibles in their entirety are made from China, the question is: when these parts show up in sets, do they come from the Chinese factory, or did LEGO make a separate mould for them in Europe?

So there's really no concrete answer to your question. I would personally think that the bowlers come from China because a. they were first in the collectible minifigures and b. they have the solid ring for connection with the head stud. Head-wear coming from Europe typically has a discontinuous circle for connection, for whatever reason (unless the connection ring doesn't protrude and is just embedded in the piece). The jester hat everyone has always assumed comes from China, but there's no real way of knowing. For what it's worth, Robin's hair-piece also has a solid connection ring. It may also be from China, since it is in the Collectible Series 7 line, so it could possibly have been put into production a while ago in China. But it looks and feels like a regular LEGO piece, so who knows.

[The Blue Brick]

Great review Clone O'Patra.

[Combee]

This set looks great, I've been wanting to pick it up but my local Lego store has been out of stock for weeks and I refuse to pay the Toys R Us inflated price