The Lego Movie Review

Having been behind both 21 Jump Street and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have shown an aptitude for presenting funny and ingenious pictures, and their latest endeavour The Lego Movie, should appeal to not only the adults who enjoyed the former, but also the children who revelled in the latter – as a film that mixes that comedic fervour with their inventive, fantastical nature.

Our lead character is Emmet (Chris Pratt), a construction worker who merely blends into the background, living within his means in an Orwellian society, run by the dastardly President Business (Will Ferrell), who has an evil scheme to destroy this kingdom once and for all. Emmet is unwittingly thrust into the limelight when mistaken as being the MasterBuilder. Nonetheless, the mostly forgettable civilian is determined to prove his worth, and alongside his team consisting of the likes of Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) and Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), they embark on a mission to save their people once and for all.

The Lego Movie is pure comedy, and unlike so many other films aimed at a younger audience, Miller and Lord resist the opportunity to be overly sentimental. Many of the jokes are self-deprecating and play on the inadequacy of the Lego population, in how they can’t hold things with their oddly shaped hands, for example. It is an incredible visual treat too: presented as being stop-motion, yet being completely CGI, which makes for a unique cinematic experience; and though it may take some time to adjust to, it’s definitely worth it in the end.

Unfortunately the finale is somewhat underwhelming – not in what occurs as such, but in the timing of the execution. Nonetheless it’s a minor gripe in a film that never takes itself too seriously and, much like the Lego toys you can buy in store, offers nothing but fun. It will appease those of us ridden with nostalgia, and the youngsters who don’t even know what nostalgia means yet.