Review: The LEGO Movie

An adventure of hilarious proportions.

Director(s): Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Writer(s): Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Nick Offerman

Release Date: February 7, 2014

Genre: Animated/Action/Adventure

Plot: An ordinary LEGO minifigure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil LEGO tyrant from gluing the universe together

Does The LEGO Movie live up to all the hype? Find out in our review HERE: 

4/5 Tonies

"Come with me if you want to not die."

After hearing all the hype behind The LEGO Movie it was about time I checked it. I went in wanting to disprove all the buzz that has been swarming this film. Sadly, I could not.

The LEGO Movie is a brilliant piece (pun intended) that brings in themes of individuality and creativity to the minds of children and adults everywhere.

The story follows Emmet Brickowski, an ordinary construction worker with no special qualities who lives, works, and breathes the city of Bricksburg. One day after Emmet clocks out of work he comes across a woman by the name of Wyldstyle, who is searching for something within the construction site. When he investigates, Emmet falls into a hole and finds the Piece of Resistance. Compelled to touch it, Emmet experiences vivid visions and passes out. Later finding out that he is foretold to be “The Special” a hero from an ancient prophecy told by a wise old man named Vitruvious who believes Emmet holds the key to saving their world from impending doom brought on by the evil President Business. Now Emmet and a team of “Master Builders,”  highly-trained and super-creative builders who design all sorts of wacky things in the world of LEGOS, must stop President Business before time runs out.

A plot you may have heard of before.

Beforehand some may see the plot as cliché and unoriginal, but after viewing the film you begin to see and understand what the comedy duo were trying to do with this film. The world they created for our favorite childhood past-time was far from ordinary. They pulled together some of our favorite characters such as Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Han Solo, C-3PO, and many more – throwing them into an environment of cleverly designed story telling and wit. Universal themes and intellectual ideas grounded by hilarious dialogue and absurd scenarios are what keep this heart felt story afloat. Leaving the impression that animation is far from “just a kids thing.”

If you aren't all that impressed by outstanding stories then maybe the stunning visuals are just what you need. The film was crafted by incredibly put together CG. In fact the film almost feels as if it were shot frame by frame using actual LEGOS. The colors are vibrant and completely flashy. The hold your attention throughout. One of the major beauties of this film is the attention to detail. It's everywhere. Fire and smoke take the shape of little Lego pieces and the characters move in twitchy motions as if people were making them move. There was always something going on in the background such as characters interacting or spectacle visuals. Each frame held the ability to tell a brand new story while at the same time moving the protagonist's tale along. Which is something that is rare to see in film today. Especially in animation.

This film is down-right hilarious. It is guaranteed to have you laughing from beginning to end. The great part about it is that humor is witty and not just for children. It references and makes fun of human emotions. The exaggerated actions and over-the-top scenarios our characters face is up to par. I actually believe I was laughing louder than most of the children in the theater.

The LEGO Movie is a precious gem that appeals to audiences everywhere. It proves that animation is beginning to grow into something that captures the attention of not only children, but adults as well. If this movement continues to take place we may just see some animated films being nominated for best film in the future.

If you were looking for a part of this review where I explain the bad aspects of the film you may want to look somewhere else. The only negative thing I can even begin to gather is that I wish it were longer.

Overall, The LEGO Movie was a fun watch that keeps you laughing throughout the film's entirety. Grab a friend and treat them to this delightful film. A smile is guaranteed to be plastered on their face.

Pros: Hilarious, Witty humor, Great Script, Amazing detail

Cons: I wish it were longer

Rating: 4/5 Tonies

*STOP*

If you have already watched the film here's a fun little treat for you. If you haven't this will not spoil the film, but you will be unaware of it's hilarity.

Written by Anthony Centeno