“The Lego Movie” Theatrical Review

One month into 2014 and we already have one of the best films of the year.

Back at the end of 2013, during one of our Nerd-Casts (one of the lost episodes), a question came up as to what we felt was our most anticipated film of the year 2014. And for me, I didn’t have to wait very long. It was you. The previews, which started showing last fall showed one of the funniest and most inventive animated films to come down the pike in a very long time. Starring the greatest toys ever made and a voice cast including Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman; I knew this would be a bull’s-eye. At this point, I am  dislocating my shoulder while I pat myself on the back.

Directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord (the Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs series and 21 Jump Street) have brought to life a child’s toy box of Lego characters and worlds. At the same time, they have created a film that is exciting, hysterically funny, and quite intelligent. It’s a film that both adults and kids will be clamoring to get to.

Lego Movie Screenshot 1

The film focuses on Emmet Brickowoski (Chris Pratt), an ordinary construction worker. His life consists of waking up in the morning, drinking overpriced coffee, and reading instruction manuals on how to live his life. As a matter of fact, his life is never ending instruction manual-always doing what someone tells them to do and never having original thought. All that changes when Emmet meets Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), mysterious warrior searching for the “Piece of Resistance,” a red rectangle with mysterious powers. Before Wyldstyle can claim the object, it is discovered by Emmet, and strangely becomes affixed to his back.

Based on a prophecy proclaimed by Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), the person holding the Piece of Resistance is the Master Builder and has the power to take down the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell), a maniacal villain who plans on destroying the world using the Kragle on Tacos Tuesday (the S is silent).

Emmet, Wyldstyle, and Vitruvius escape Lord Business’s henchmen with the help of Batman (Will Arnett) and are taken to Cloud Cuckoo palace. It is here they are united with other Master Builders: Superman, Wonder Woman, 1980 Space guy, Abraham Lincoln, Michelangelo (the painter), Michelangelo (the turtle), and Uni-Kitty, a unicorn/anime kitten hybrid.

But before a plan can be hatched, all but a few of our heroes are captured by Good cop/Bad cop (Liam Neeson). The remaining characters must come together to help Emmet achieve his ability to become the Master Builder he’s proclaimed to be, and to stop Lord Business from ending the world.

Lego Movie Screenshot 2

The Lego Movie is a visual feast. Everything on screen appears to have been made from Legos. Enormous cities, incredible vehicles, and vast landscapes each look like they came straight from a box and built for the film. The most amazing aspect of this is that water, smoke, and explosions are also made from Legos and it looks absolutely incredible. At the same time, shots of Cloud Cuckoo show that that world is hanging by a thread in front of a Lego background, making it look like a child’s playroom.

The screenplay by Miller and Lord is full of gut-busting laughs for those old enough to understand them. Face it, the little ones will be too busy looking at all the Lego characters. This is the part of the film that the adults will appreciate. Inside jokes come hurling at you nonstop, as well as unexpected cameos. One in particular especially had me rolling on the floor.

The voice performances by the entire cast are perfect. Chris Platt (from TV’s Parks and Recreation) is terrific as Emmet. Hearing him in this film makes me more excited to see him on screen in Marvels’ Guardians of the Galaxy. Elizabeth Banks’ Wyldstyle is more complex than your average animated female lead, and she definitely delivers. Every time I heard Will Ferrell in this film, all I could think of was of Mugatu from Zoolander, which is good because he was fantastic in that, as he is here. And Morgan Freeman? The man can read the phone book and make it sound good.

Lego Movie Screenshot 3

The Lego Movie is an absolute treat for everyone. It achieves what few animated films within the past couple years try but fail to do: keep the entire audience involved. It’s entertaining, action-packed, and, if you are not distracted by all the goings-on on screen, it makes you think a little bit. The film has an ending that absolutely caught me off guard, but it works perfectly within the realm of the film. I promised myself I wasn’t going to use this word in this review, but there is no way around it – this film is AWESOME!!!

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