The Lego Movie (Film Review)

Everything is INDEED awesome.

It’s been years since I've seen an animated film at such a great level, in fact the reason The Lego Movie took me a while to review was because I went to see it twice; once in its regular theatrical version and another time in 3D (let me mention that the regular version is superior, containing brighter colors and easier to read text).  After two viewings what I found truly impressive is The Lego Movie has something there for everyone; an idea enforced by viewing the film with two different groups.  While the majority of scenes were mutually enjoyed, specific parts and/or smaller jokes gave more delight to different viewers.  The film is packed so full of greatness that for every joke that doesn't work, there’s a contrasting joke right after to make it up (followed by a barrage of twenty other jokes in the next few minutes).

In the film, the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell) has taken over the Lego world realms as well as captured many Master Builders (individuals capable of building anything) in order to bring absolute order to the world’s anarchic creativity.  The story follows Lego figure Emmet (Chris Pratt), an everyday construction worker living the instructed life under “President” Business’s orders, that is until one day he accidentally stumbles upon the Piece of Resistance; a powerful relic capable of stopping Business’s ultimate dooms day device, the Kragle!  Emmet’s told by the wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) and his former student Wildstyle (Elisabeth Banks) that finding the Piece of Resistance makes him the “Special”, and begin training him to defeat Business and his army.  Along the way we meet numerous characters including Batman (Will Arnett), see vast locations, and are given a wonderful story filled with comedy, action, drama and emotion.

So what does The Lego Movie have that makes it so versatile?  Well, to start off it’s got the basic film genres; action, adventure, comedy, drama and romance.  Then it has the specifics:  It has short term cameos, long term cameos, common references, obscure references, specific references; inside jokes, outside jokes, jokes for kids, jokes for teens; smart jokes, toilet jokes, reference jokes, adult jokes, boy jokes, girl jokes, lots and lots of batman jokes; car chases, laser beams, alligator pits, western shootouts, western chases, spaceship battles, explosions, dragons , superheroes, western spaceship laser shootout chases with alligator pits; minor moral lessons, major moral lessons, morals for kids, morals for teens, morals for adults and a so many twist surprises it’ll keep your full attention till the very end.  It’s actually easier to mention what’s not featured…I didn't see Gumby anywhere…so if that upsets you don’t go see the movie.

There’s been so much said about The Lego Movie I doubt I’ll say anything new, but on a second viewing I did notice a unique aspect.  This truly is an impressive looking film, filled with multiple locations, immense settings and remarkable attention to detail.  The latter can only be fully appreciated though through a second viewing.  There’s so much going on here that it’s quite easy to miss the little details given thought to in the background.  For example, I completely missed on my first viewing that the ridiculous price of coffee had gone from $37 to $42 during the interrogation scene, or when a golf ball crashes into the secret hideout and rolls after a frantic Lego Indiana Jones.  Little jokes such as these weren't necessary to the plot, neither were many of the background characters scurrying around performing various activities; but they provide both a sense of life and extra entertainment (on the second viewing) that didn't go unappreciated by this viewer.

The same concept applies to The Lego Movie’s comedy and action sequences; as it’s easy to miss the extreme distance taken in making such an expansive, intricate world.  During the motorcycle chase scene Wildstyle actually kicks a helicopter in midair causing a massive explosion, yet such a bad ass act is only a minor part of the scene and everything else happening (including an exaggerated parody/homage of a cop car pileup near the end).  Later on Lord Business’s top man Badcop (Liam Neeson) hurdles his car up onto a moving train in chase our of protagonists (bringing me a mixture of open laughter and squealing excitement at the sight), before transforming into a hover craft and entering an epic battle against Batman.  Near the end of this scene, we get a touching freeze frame where Emmet and Wildstyle express each other’s feelings before falling to their apparent deaths via alligator pit.  While a very pleasant scene by itself (minus the whole about to die by alligators), what put the icing on the cake for me was Vitruvius idly floating across the background.  Now I don’t precisely know why I find the scene the best thing ever; maybe it’s Vitruvius’ motionless body floating wide eyed during a semi-serious scene, or maybe it’s because he keeps suddenly appearing on both sides of the conversation.  All I know is I loved it during both viewings, which goes to show how far a little extra detail can significantly enhance a scene from good to great.

There are many wonderful aspects in The Lego Movie.  The cast is great, the comedy’s hilarious, the action’s awesome and the setting’s impressive.  Yet it’s the last third where The Lego Movie goes from really good film to spectacular achievement.   I won’t spoil it, but I will say it brings a whole new level of depth and emotion.  Suddenly, everything before has more complexity and what could have been a typical ending becomes something entirely new and refreshingly pleasant.  More than that, the ending combines it’s other ideas to create morals that children, teens and even adults can learn from.  With a great plot, fine morals and a cast of colorful characters all rolled into one big epic stop-motion animation, The Lego Movie succeeds far beyond any expectations; becoming one of the best animated films to be released in years.