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| Everything is awesome! |
-Albert Einstein
Our imagination is what allows us to see beyond any horizon, to envision new worlds, and to fly among the birds without wings. If you were to ask me "Do I believe in the power of imagination?" my answer would be a resounding "Yes!" It is through embracing imagination, ingenuity, and creativity that humankind has been able to remake the world as it is. Imagination is what makes each and every one of us special or unique in some way.
The Lego toy brand has endured for sixty five years, and it is with good reason. Few franchises have ever managed to tap into that ever so sweet spot of being appealing to not only children, but also adults. As an example, I still mess around with Lego to this very day, and I'm almost thirty years old. My theory as to why it's like this is because Lego is one of the only toys out there that encourages everyone (regardless of age) who plays with it to be creative; to look deep down into their imagination and build something incredible.
The Lego Movie marks the first film of 2014 for me, and I've gotta say that it doesn't disappoint. Not only does this picture meet my expectations, it totally surpasses any that I could have. Even after two more consecutive viewings, and taking a good deal of time to ponder over it, I still can't bring myself to think of The Lego Movie any less than how I did on my first go. This may very well be one of the best family films to hit theaters in a long time, and I'm not being hyperbolic when I write these words either. I truly do feel that this is a great piece of cinema that will endure the test of time, much like its parent brand.
On the surface it may seem like The Lego Movie is nothing more than a blatant cash-in on a notable franchise (and no one could blame you for that cynicism honestly) but this film is so much more than that. What could have so easily come off as a bloated two hour long toy commercial instead stands as a testament to what it means to be a kid at heart. With its bright colors, high energy, constant humor, and optimistic narrative, The Lego Movie makes it almost impossible to not feel like a ten year old again by the time the credits roll.
The story focuses on Emmet Brickowski, a lowly construction worker who lives his everyday life by the rules, but ultimately in obscurity. No one seems to know that Emmet even exists until the day he comes into contact with an ancient relic prophesied to prevent the coming apocalypse of the Lego universe. Suddenly this utter nobody finds himself thrust into a journey of epic proportions. With the aid of the Master Builders (special individuals who can create anything from the Lego around them) Emmet sets out with a motely crew of heroes to save the universe from the tyrannical machinations of the evil Lord Business.
While the plot may seem a bit on the derivative side at first, it quickly turns itself into a loving parody of the big summer blockbusters we've all come to know. Make no mistake, this is perhaps one of the most genuinely funny films that has come out in years. The Lego Movie is littered with word plays, references, and visual gags (both in the foreground and background) that viewers both young and old will likely get. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miler prove that they have the comedic chops needed to keep the audience laughing to nearly no end with the greatest of ease.
Much like the toy-line itself, there is a clear and strong emphasis on not just the act of, but the very nature of creativity and imaginative thinking. Speaking for myself, its something I really admire as an artist (and even just as a movie-goer) as it's nice to see a major Hollywood flick imbibe an often overlooked message. It gets enforced many times throughout the narrative, as characters find themselves having to think outside of the box in order to succeed over the conflicts presented, and even the essence of this theme gets turned on its ear come the top of the third act. The purity of imagination is the backbone that makes The Lego Movie stand as a fun, yet inspirational piece.
A special mention I feel must also be made of The Lego Movie's legitimately touching ending. I won't go into spoilers, but I will say that the finale is one of the best love letters to a fandom ever. Even with multiple viewings I still find myself tearing up at the ending speech.
The story focuses on Emmet Brickowski, a lowly construction worker who lives his everyday life by the rules, but ultimately in obscurity. No one seems to know that Emmet even exists until the day he comes into contact with an ancient relic prophesied to prevent the coming apocalypse of the Lego universe. Suddenly this utter nobody finds himself thrust into a journey of epic proportions. With the aid of the Master Builders (special individuals who can create anything from the Lego around them) Emmet sets out with a motely crew of heroes to save the universe from the tyrannical machinations of the evil Lord Business.
While the plot may seem a bit on the derivative side at first, it quickly turns itself into a loving parody of the big summer blockbusters we've all come to know. Make no mistake, this is perhaps one of the most genuinely funny films that has come out in years. The Lego Movie is littered with word plays, references, and visual gags (both in the foreground and background) that viewers both young and old will likely get. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miler prove that they have the comedic chops needed to keep the audience laughing to nearly no end with the greatest of ease.
Much like the toy-line itself, there is a clear and strong emphasis on not just the act of, but the very nature of creativity and imaginative thinking. Speaking for myself, its something I really admire as an artist (and even just as a movie-goer) as it's nice to see a major Hollywood flick imbibe an often overlooked message. It gets enforced many times throughout the narrative, as characters find themselves having to think outside of the box in order to succeed over the conflicts presented, and even the essence of this theme gets turned on its ear come the top of the third act. The purity of imagination is the backbone that makes The Lego Movie stand as a fun, yet inspirational piece.
A special mention I feel must also be made of The Lego Movie's legitimately touching ending. I won't go into spoilers, but I will say that the finale is one of the best love letters to a fandom ever. Even with multiple viewings I still find myself tearing up at the ending speech.
Due to this being a Lego product, there are tons of iconic characters from Lego's numerous licenses, but thankfully none of them ever eclipse the original characters that are central to the plot. All of the new characters are instantly enjoyable, with the actors doing a spectacular job at bringing them to life. Chris Pratt's performance as main character Emmet is hilarious from his introduction all the way to the final act. Pratt makes Emmet a lovable, but also very fallible hero that you can't help but want to root for. Elizebeth Banks plays the female lead Wyldstyle, and while she isn't quite as funny as Pratt's Emmet, she's easily one the most badass characters in the cast. Morgan Freeman brings his A-game to the table with Vitruvius, who much like Pratt has unbelievable comedic timing with his lines. Usually I'm not a Will Ferrell fan by any stretch, but here he brings the villain Lord Business to life with a quirkyness that only someone like Ferrell can provide.
My personal favorite characters though go to none other than Will Arnett's narcissisticly jerkish portrayal of DC's Batman, Liam Neeson's Bad Cop, and Allison Brie's Princess Unikitty. Almost every line Batman states is overtly self-aggrandizing, while simultaneously standing as a parody of everything the character has become over the decades. In regards of comedic effect, his role is only somewhat matched by the wondrously funny Liam Neeson as Good Cop-Bad Cop. Hearing Neeson switch between two cartoonishly over-the-top personas is something I honestly didn't think him to be capable of, but yet here we are, with perhaps the only other character people are likely to remember the most after coming out of this film. Allison Brie's portrayal of the semi-bipolar Princess Unikitty is equally as hilariously hyperbolic as Neeson's, and is put to great use, making for some of The Lego Movie's most outrageous spots whenever she's on screen.
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| From left to right: Princess Unikitty, Benny The Spaceman, Emmet, Batman, Vitruvius, Wyldstyle |
Not only does the hard work of the voice cast bring The Lego Movie to life, but so do its phenomenal visuals. Everything in this films is built entirely out of Lego, and frankly I wouldn't have it any other way. Through a combination of CG animation and Stop-Motion animation, The Lego Movie has a unique (albeit slightly janky, but still lovable) quality to itself once the characters start moving and the action kicks into high gear. A scene as simple as seeing the ocean waves roll suddenly becomes this spectacular display of what someone with enough dedication could really do with enough Lego at their disposal. Sequences where the Master Builder characters are constructing vehicles and weapons from the world around them is impressive due in part to their speed and sheer creative designs. At almost no point during The Lego Movie is there a moment where "nothing" is happening. The motions never stop, and each character always has something fun to do.
Even the soundtrack hits a high mark with me. Mark Mothersbaugh composes the original score to The Lego Movie with so much fervor and energy that it's practically contagious. One of the main tracks in the front of the film "Everything is Awesome" is an outright hilarious song that takes on a slightly more ominous tone when you delve into the nooks and crannies of the plot. Never mind the fact that it will probably be stuck in your head for days after watching the film. My personal favorite track though yet again goes to Batman, with the gut busting song (he writes himself) that he calls "Untitled Self Portrait." Just the very thought of this song's lyrical content puts a smile on my face. All of the other tracks are just as equally fun and catchy, with every piece working flawlessly to accompany what's happening on the screen.
It's actually been pretty hard for me to find any real fault with The Lego Movie. On so many fundamental points this flick simply knocks it out of the park. If I had to find something though it would be that the story does slow down a bit by the second act. Since the first act has a great deal of action and comedy to it some may feel that this is a very front-loaded movie, which in a way it is. Personally I feel the second act almost needs to bring the audience down a little bit so that they can have a breather from all the zaniness of the opening. Once the third act begins, everything ramps back up into an ultimately satisfying conclusion. Perhaps some will find the speech at the finale to be a tad on the heavy-handed side with its moral and whatnot, but personally I find it to be essentially perfect for what the story is about.
Overall, if you still find yourself to be a kid at heart, than you owe it to your inner child to watch The Lego Movie. I feel absolutely comfortable in saying that this film is the first true hit of 2014. With an incredibly fun story, fantastic jokes, a lovable cast of characters, spectacular animation, and a hilarious soundtrack you can't really go wrong. I'm so happy that this picture exists. Now the Lego brand has something else under its belt that will definitely weather the years to come. Not only do I view The Lego Movie as a timeless and enjoyable family film, but I see it as perhaps one of the greatest family films to possibly ever be made!
Positive Factors
- Incredibly fun story that keeps the jokes coming and parodies so much, yet manages to keep itself timeless at its core.
- A legitimately touching ending that speaks to the child in all of us.
- Rock solid performances from the entire cast. No one voice feels out of place. Even Will Ferrell is good!
- Spectacular visuals. A combination of CG and Stop-Motion animation gives this film a distinct flare.
- Fantastic scoring that is at the same time hilarious and appropriate for everything that happens on screen.
Negative Factors
- After the bombastic first act, some may find the second act noticeably slower.
- The speech at the finale could be taken as being a bit heavy-handed.
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