By Pat Tintle
Staff Writer
Who hasn’t played with Legos?
It seems like everyone at one point in his or her life had some form of the brick-shaped toys. Whether it be with the Star Wars series, Harry Potter or just the plain old bricks, Lego has left its mark on nearly everyone’s childhood since 1949. And now there’s finally a movie to go with the franchise.
But this new film, released last Friday, is more than just a 100-minute commercial.
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (“21 Jump Street,” “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”) helm the film with their signature offbeat, comedic style. Up-and-coming actor Chris Pratt and comedy veteran Elizabeth Banks voice the two yellow-faced heroes, Emmet and Wyldstyle, who attempt to save their world from the villainous, Stalin-esque, President Business, voiced by Will Ferrell. Sounds like a simple kid’s movie right?
But “The Lego Movie” holds more depth than what meets the eye. Instead of being a straightforward, kid-safe, forgettable entry into the already overloaded toy genre (think “Transformers” or “Battleship”), this movie takes the audience to many unexpected places.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect in the movie is its blatant and hilarious self-awareness. In other words, “The Lego Movie” knows what the audience is expecting and then takes that idea and twists it 180 degrees.
This wit, rarely found in a film marketed as a children’s movie, is refreshing for anyone who knows the clichés which too many Hollywood studios try to shove down the throats of their young viewers. Similar to the theme of “The Lego Movie,” Lord and Miller are not afraid to push the boundaries of both cinema and society.
However, the talent showcased in “The Lego Movie” is not limited to that behind the camera. Along with Pratt, Banks and Ferrell, cult-actor Will Arnett nails it as the bossy and egotistical Batman, while Morgan Freeman takes some shots at himself, voicing Vitruvius (pretty much a combination of every character Freeman has ever played). Liam Neeson takes his “don’t mess with me” image to the voice of Bad Cop/Good Cop and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor Charlie Day shows up as Spaceman Benny, a character who is addicted to the concept of a spaceship.
No matter what branch of the Lego universe you grew up on, there is sure to be a representation of your favorite one-and-a-half-inch mini figure. Lord and Miller play to the fanboys by including every Lego product from Superman to the 2002 NBA All-Stars.
And lets not forget this is officially the first Hollywood movie to include the Justice League! – Watch out “Man of Steel 2.”
“The Lego Movie” is one of those rare children’s movies that anyone of any age can watch and still appreciate. Its superb visual effects – a combination of stop motion and CGI animation – transport the viewer into a world full of color and fun.
So if you are a fan of either Legos or out-of the-box humor, “The Lego Movie” is money well spent.
