You have every reason to dismiss The Lego Movie as yet another terrible cash-in of a widely recognized brand, and that the nostalgia-blinded rabble will flock to see it. Fortunately, however, this film is quite the opposite, and is in fact one of the funniest and most beautifully original movies to be released in a long time.
What is even more surprising than the fact that this film is good is that it was able to be made at all. A feature-length Lego fan film, animated to specifically look like stop motion? It’s amazing that directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were able to get away with this.
The plot revolves around Emmet, a completely ordinary construction figure that is hilariously oblivious to everything going on around him. He is by accident pulled into a conspiracy that has him as the hero of an ancient prophesy, destined to save the varied Lego realms. Think Toy Story by way of The Matrix. While this setup might seem familiar and cliché by now, it ingeniously turns itself around and even critiques the trite truisms the genre normally produces.
Every character is very memorable, well written, and entertaining. The set design (literally, in this case) is absolutely mesmerizing, and truly feels like an entire universe created of Lego. The animation, while solid, is made rough enough to give an impression of stop-motion plastic, which really flows with the narrative well.
Do not under any circumstances read detailed plot descriptions or analyses before seeing the film for yourself. While it doesn’t completely hinge on surprises, it really will be a much better experience without any spoilers. At the end is a reveal that absolutely makes the entire film even better.
The Lego Movie is, without a doubt, a fantastic movie that will be cherished by everyone for many years to come, and you should without a doubt go see it, especially if you have a younger child/sibling. It truly is an experience for all ages.
