The teaser trailer had me sold right away. Released a few months prior to its theatrical premiere on February 7, 2014, what surprised me the most about this first look at The Lego Movie (based on the popular Dutch brand of instantly-recognizable and colored plastic bricks) was the resemblance of stop-motion animation for the Lego figurines on display. I learned later, though, that the animation was CGI, but resembled actual toys being moved at such a rate as those who make animated short films for YouTube.
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have created a knack since the turn of the century for combining high art and low art. In other words, they specialize in putting silly and ridiculous (yet rapid-fire) humor in a very cinematic universe. And with unexpected poignancy, might I add. Known for their short-lived animated series "Clone High," Lord and Miller made their feature-film debut with the entertaining Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, followed by a feature-length version of the Eighties T.V. series 21 Jump Street, starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. (A meta sequel, 22 Jump Street, followed in 2014.)
One thing that makes The Lego Movie so fun is that its plot feels like it stems from a child's imagination, with a hodgepodge of different ideas (and worlds, like "Cloud Cuckoo Land," "Bricksburg," and my favorite, "Middle Zealand") and a consistent tone, which will easily appeal to kids of any age. The main story follows a regular construction worker named Emmet (Chris Pratt), who lives by routine and positivity. One day, he comes upon a strange red item (known as the "piece of resistance") and is soon believed to be the "special" hero who will save the universe from being (literally) glued together by the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell). And he gets help from a quirky crew of "Master Builders," including a hooded fighter, an ancient wizard, Benny the Space Guy (from the 1980s), UniKitty, the hodgepodge pirate Metalbeard, and even Batman (yeah, you heard me right).
What makes the story universal and appealing to adults, as silly and ridiculous as the story gets, is an unexpected twist that seems out of place at first, but turns out to be poignant and where part of the film's heart comes from. Other themes include seeing and believing in the value of others, including ourselves, no matter how unlikely they seem; accepting our shortcomings; the difference between law and "business" (or, routine and "perfection") and creative freedom (friendship, teamwork). Another lesson to be taken is this: following the crowd just makes you a face in the crowd. But when you embrace what makes you "special," it's then you stand out. With that in mind, believing in what you're capable of doing, and working together as a team to do it.
Courtesy Animal Logic (of "Robot Chicken" fame), this is some of the most incredible animation I've ever seen, not to mention some of the funniest humor I've ever seen. (Uproariously funny, in fact.) The animators even cleverly use blocks and pieces for certain elements like fire, water, and explosions, with gleeful abandon. I'm also still floored by the attention-to-detail of other elements like grime, reflections on plastic pieces, and even silly sound effects.
Pratt (of T.V.'s "Parks & Recreation") was a breakout star the year of this film's release, as he headlined Marvel's box-office hit Guardians of the Galaxy later that year as well. Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games series) gives attitude and sass to the role of Wyldstyle. Will Arnet (of Arrested Development fame) is a hoot as Batman, while no one could of played Lord Business better than Ferrell, as he has the right loud-mouthed timing and comedy. Charlie Day's Benny the Space Guy and Nick Offerman's Metalbeard are hilarious as well. But the most unbelievable and impeccable casting belongs to Morgan Freeman (as wizard Vitruvius) and Liam Neeson (possibly parodying his Taken persona, as Good Cop/Bad Cop). Who would have thought?!?
Fun fact: two years before Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice saw the live-action debut of the trinity of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, all three characters technically first appeared together theatrically in this film. Even Hill and Tatum make appearances as the voices of Green Lantern and Superman, respectfully. This film really has something for everyone. It doesn't merely qualify as a goofy kids movie. It's a combination of various genres as comedy, action, adventure, science-fiction, superhero, and drama, all universal.
Best of all, unlike previous films that took childhood nostalgia and replaced it with adult cynicism and grittiness (Transformers, anybody?), The Lego Movie respects its decades-long brand by showing us what these toys are made for, how adults use them, and how children should play with them. (The spinoff movies that followed, 2017's Lego Batman and Lego Ninjago, lacked this sense of wonder in playing with toys, despite being some clever movies otherwise.)
It's also smart that the filmmakers didn't have any characters mention the word "Lego" at all in the whole film. Otherwise, it would've been one big product placement. And that (along with the aforementioned themes) makes the animation and cinematic experience all worthwhile--or, as the signature song says, awesome.
On that note, I leave you with these two fun videos (click here and here).
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