4 Studded-Bricks out of 4
The question audiences should ask about The Lego Movie isn’t “What is the movie about?” as much as “How would anyone produce a coherent story about a Danish building block play-set?” Choosing to answer this question with the literary panache and visual flair they’re known for, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have constructed an engaging coming-of-age story filled with fun, and driven by heart. What truly separates Lord and Miller’s directing and writing from other similar features, however, is the expert way in which Lego bricks are used as both the film’s main literary and visual conceit.
The film is shot using stop-motion animation. Each sequence is a collected vignette of Lego bricks and figures assembled together to form a scene of animation. By incorporating stunning panoramic sweeps, long tracking shots, and a camera intent on capturing everything it possibly can, the cinematography by Pablo Plaisted, and editing by David Burrows and Chris McKay, help bring this stop-motion to life.
Light and colour have always been the two driving forces behind animation; what The Lego Movie does is combine these two forces to create a stunning visual palette that does everything it can to enhance the story. Lord and Miller’s production is yet another perfect example of beautiful images working together to tell a great story.
Every sequence in the film is constructed using the Danish building blocks and simple Lego blocks allowed the film’s artists to create settings and sequences of varying emotional depth.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a great script – delivered by a great cast – to even a film out. Starring as the voice of ordinary construction worker Emmet Brickowski, Chris Pratt is joined by a star-studded cast including Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson, Nick Offerman, Charlie Day, and the golden-voiced Morgan Freeman. With no exception, each voice is a fantastic performance on the part of the actor, with Arnett deserving extra praise as the gloomy and brooding Batman.
The film’s main story features the evil Lord Business (Ferrell) attempting to isolate and divide the Lego universe with the aid of his mysterious assistant. Only the chosen one, with the help of the legendary Piece of Resistance, can bring balance, unity, and harmony to the world. Admittedly, the plot is a standard rehash of the hero’s quest, but thanks to the wide array of characters Lego is capable of bringing together, the audience stays engaged by getting to know exactly what would happen if Superman and Shakespeare ever fought an evil army of Lego robots. In a way, The Lego Movie‘s strongest asset is the Lego brand itself.
The plot’s originality can be called into question (J.R.R. Tolkien must be spinning in his grave), and film purists can argue that the movie is yet another cheap Hollywood cash-in on a beloved childhood franchise. However, the truth is that what Lord and Miller have created is far more than just another movie. In the span of 100 minutes, Lord, Miller, and everyone involved with the film’s production build a compelling world lead by nothing more than a vibrant cast of multifaceted Lego bricks and figurines.
Against all common sense, standing in the face of all logic, The Lego Movie manages to form something spectacular out of those little bricks that everyone steps on in the middle of the night.
Mention must be made of the film’s theme song, a collaborative effort by Teagan and Sara and the Lonely Island. “Everything is Awesome” is simply one of the catchiest tunes ever produced, and its integration into every sequence and setting only adds to the humour. Surprisingly, it doesn’t get old.
Imagination is the cornerstone of construction, and nothing exemplifies this more than the Lego Brick. Builders of all ages, ethnicities, beliefs, and creeds can create anything their minds can imagine by piling on brick after brick. It’s this spirit of childlike ingenuity that is captured, bottled, and sold by The Lego Movie. The film also takes the big risk of several not-so-subtle jabs at multinational expansion and corporate brainwashing, which is ironic considering everything in the movie is built from Lego. That the film preaches a message of uniqueness is the perfect example of everything Lego represents.