It only takes one viewing of the preview for The LEGO Movie to hear the phrase, “Everything is awesome.” It is a line that is repeated in the theme song more times than “It’s a small world after all” in that “other” song that gets stuck in your head, but the sentiment pretty much explains the overall feel for this movie. Though it doesn’t feel like it from the beginning of the flick, The LEGO Movie can be appreciated by people of all ages. Who knew that a story about a bunch of plastic bricks could be so entertaining or heart-warming?
Presented by Warner Bros. animation, the same people responsible for the obnoxious fare found on the Cartoon Network, The LEGO Movie begins at a frantic pace and doesn’t slow down. However, unlike the empty-headed ideas of some cartoons, LEGO features some real characters, an engaging story and a few nice messages as well. If you find yourself in doubt when seeing this movie, hold on, a deeper message is coming.
LEGO is created by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the same guys responsible for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, a huge hit with children. It begins at the beginning of a typical day of Emmet Brickowski, a friendly yet lonely fellow whose best friend is a plant. Emmet is a construction worker who thinks his job, his favorite TV show (Honey, Where’s My Pants?), and overpriced coffee is awesome! Is he brainwashed? Possibly. Apparently all of the other LEGO figures like the same things.
Emmet’s life as he knows it comes to an abrupt change when Wyldstyle enters it. She is a follower of Vitruvius, a mystery man who tells the legend of “The Special” who will arrive someday to free the figures of their supposed blindness. Wyldstyle mistakes Emmet for The Special and now his life is in danger. Together they run amuck from Good Cop/Bad Cop, a figurine that literally changes his face to become one character or the other.
Good Cop/Bad Cop works for President Business, also known as Lord Business, who has an evil plan to change the land of LEGOs forever. Fortunately for Emmet, he receives help from Batman, Wyldstyle’s boyfriend. Confused yet? Just wait until all the cameos come in including Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Superman, Shakespeare, Gandalf (from Lord of the Rings), Abraham Lincoln, Shaquille O’Neal, Luke Skywalker and C-3PO!
Yes, the film is chaotic at times, but not overly so. The twist near the end is worth the price of admission with a message that both children and their parents will understand. The importance of family, understanding and loving each other is emphasized here. So is the message that you don’t have to be perfect to be special, and sometimes it’s okay to color outside of the lines of life. Just make sure that you share the LEGOs when you get home.
The LEGO Movie is rated PG in America for mild action and rude humor, although it is rated G just about anywhere else in the world. It is perfectly harmless fun and to my knowledge, no LEGO pieces were harmed in the making of this movie.
The LEGO Movie features the voice talents of Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Dave Franco, Chris Pratt, Channing Tatum and others.
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