The Lego Movie (2014, PG)

Seriously, now – no judgment.  I begrudgingly saw this movie with friends, but I truly enjoyed it a lot.  Far from being what I’d thought it’d be (a long, high-budget toy commercial,) The Lego Movie is actually a fun, inventive film with creative visuals, some nice themes, and sly humor.

 

Let’s start with the plot, which is way more 1984-meets-The-Matrix-meets-Toy-Story than I’d expected.  Emmett is an average Lego living an average life, doing precisely what he’s told.  He’s been fully indoctrinated into a society ruled by instructions:  follow the steps for proper assembly, be friendly and productive, consume prefab popular art, and inform on any dissenters with a cheerfully clear conscious.  Little does he know that the administration of the unscrupulous president is built on a foundation of harsh interrogations, uncharged detainees, and merciless executions.  Likewise, he has no idea that there are other worlds beyond the boundaries of his own, where an underground collective of Master Builders assemble according to no one’s rules and await the arrival of a prophesied hero known as The Special.

 

Until, that is, an unexpected tumble puts Emmett in contact with the non-regulation Piece of Resistance and he’s pulled into a chaotic, whirlwind adventure by a fetching young Master Builder.  Soon, there’s a price on his head, he’s breaking between worlds, and a genuine wizard is trying to tap into innate leadership qualities the prophecy says he has.  The only problem is that Emmett couldn’t be more unqualified for the job.  He likes following the instructions, he loves being told what to think, and his own ideas aren’t exactly brimming with creativity.  He, and his newfound followers, start to worry that there’s been a mistake.

 

It’s a wonderfully funny film that smartly mines the tropes of dystopian fiction and skewers fantasy/sci-fi conventions about a promised Chosen One; it pokes fun at films that take their own lore too seriously by constantly letting the air out of its mythos.  Additionally, there are plenty of nostalgic classic-Legos jokes for enthusiasts, as well as an undercurrent of adult humor that goes over the kids’ heads.  The movie also has some thoughtful moments, exploring themes of team work, creativity, and individual worth.  These bits can be a little obvious – we’re not talking Pixar pathos here – but the heart is always in the right place.

 

The animation is impressive, capturing the look and feel of a stop-motion feature.  The movie does a lot of playing with the nature of a Lego world, and the visuals take full advantage of that.  It’s great to watch characters tweak their getaway vehicles on the go, repurposing pieces to make a motorcycle into a plane.  The limited mobility of Lego people gets a few laughs, and the detail in the animation is pretty incredible.

 

Plenty of big names lend their voices to the film.  Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks are our anchors, with Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman as major players.  Will Arnett is a standout as a tool-ish Lego Batman, and there are fun appearances by Alison Brie, Charlie Day, and Jonah Hill, among others.

 

Warnings

 

Some Lego violence, a few dark themes, and a little disguised adult humor.