A full-length animated film about toy blocks might seem like a foolish idea, even by family movie standards.
But 'The LEGO Movie' didn’t hear that warning, choosing instead to tear down the old rules and rebuild them from the ground up — brick by colourful brick. The result is outstandingly hilarious.
'The LEGO Movie' tells the tale of Emmet (Chris Pratt), a construction worker of the most ordinary, average and uninteresting kind in a block-filled city. Emmet is thrown off the path of conformity when he stumbles onto President Business (Will Ferrell)’s plan to stomp out creativity forever and must deal with his new role as an extraordinary hero on a quest to save the Lego world.
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The premise might sound a little overdone (and it is), but it’s the execution of 'The LEGO Movie' that makes it such a hilarious and enjoyable ride. Pratt and Ferrell’s humorous personalities transfer seamlessly to their characters, alongside Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson, and a host of other talents.
Will Arnett is also impossibly perfect as LEGO Batman, complete with puns and brooding tongue-in-cheek menace. This coupled with a genuinely laugh-out-loud script filled with rapid fire one-liners and pop culture nods will leave both young and young-at-heart audiences in stitches.
Visually, the film is flawless — the animation quality allows for thick-and-fast action sequences, explosions and eccentric creations beyond the possible scale of real LEGO, but the feel of reality is still there, right down to the tiny wear-and-tear scratches and dents on the quirky characters’ heads.
'The LEGO Movie' is a fun reminder of what family films can achieve. The story is executed quickly, but with just enough time to deliver an inspiring message about creativity and imagination. Whilst there’s no shame in the product placement, the object here isn’t to sell you the newest box set, but rather to send you digging out your own LEGO box for a new adventure.
'The LEGO Movie' is a very clever, very funny trip down nostalgia lane and should be a must-see for block-builders of all ages.
★★★★ 1/2
For more of Jacob's insights on film, visit thisisfilm.com.
