The Lego Movie

This post was originally written on February 9, 2014 for the Daily Beacon, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's student-run newspaper. It was in fact featured in said newspaper, but I wanted to post the original version here.

“The Lego Movie:” Where Childhood Meets Adulthood

I grew-up with Legos. Now, when I say I grew-up with Legos, I really mean that my older brother had them. I did have a few of my own though. We had a pretty large variety, providing hours of fun.

            When I learned that there was going to be a Lego movie, I was extremely excited. The thought of seeing something beloved from my childhood put into cinematic form was something I couldn’t ignore.

            Obviously, this has become somewhat of a trend recently. Major production companies have turned toys and board games from our childhood into blockbusters in the hope that our need for nostalgia will drive us into theaters to buy tickets. For the most part, this has in fact worked. Unfortunately, the filmmakers have sometimes forgotten to also create a good story line.

            Thankfully, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the directors and two of the writers of the film, used their inspiration to create an engaging story that appeals to both children and adults.

            The movie’s main protagonist is an average, Lego construction worker named Emmet (voiced by Chris Pratt), who finds “The Piece of Resistance,” which is the only thing that can stop President Business (Will Ferrell) from ending the world. Emmet must save the world by discovering that he is in fact special in a world that is under the control of the instructions given by the overbearing President Business.

            The film is filled with amazing voice acting from an all-star cast, including Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, and Elizabeth Banks. The comedic one-liners and puns are also consistent and hilarious throughout the film.

            The animation in itself is brilliant. Although the majority of the movie is CG, the animation flows as if it was stop-motion, like the filmmakers are actually sitting down and playing with their Legos as they act out the story. The cinematography and sound also adds to these effects. One minute, it has the feel of an intense action movie, and the next minute the viewer is reminded that the characters are Legos through the use of silly, human voiced sound effects.

“The Lego Movie” proves that just because a film is animated, does not mean that it cannot have a deep and profound theme fueling it. What makes this film great is that it moves beyond the surface comedy. It is a true hero story, with major themes interwoven underneath. Not only must Emmet save the world, but he must also break out of his comfort zone in order to discover his true worth as an “ordinary” individual.

At the end of the film, the underlying theme of letting go of control, and sharing what we love with the next generation, is brought to light. Unfortunately, I cannot go into detail without giving away the ending, so I will leave it to the reader to go out and get the full experience of the depth and nostalgia that helped create this wonderful movie.