‘Everything is awesome!’ exclaims the immensely upbeat anthem from The LEGO Movie – and while watching, it is difficult to disagree. There may be an obvious marketing angle to the first film made about the world’s most popular interconnecting blocks, but helmers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (21 Jump Street) have constructed their creative concoction with the imagination and innovation of a master builder. Unbridled joy is what keeps its frenetic and funny parts together; there’s no force or glue needed.
In a story first conceived by Hotel Transylvania’s Dan and Kevin Hageman, and then revised and fleshed out to script stage by the eventual writer/directors, conformity is key; instructions advise how to fit in, have everyone like you, and be happy. Of course, breaking the rules is part of the attraction of playing with LEGO, deviating from the guidelines to concoct something unique and different. What truly makes The LEGO Movie special is not just its understanding of this fact, but its authentic integration into a canny, crafty tale.
Emmett Brickowoski (Chris Pratt, TV’s Parks and Recreation) is a regular, everyday guy, toiling in construction and trying to find his place among the indistinct hordes. A worksite fall sees him stumble onto a secret plan by the evil President Business (Will Ferrell, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues) to subject the city of Bricksburg and the other LEGO realms to the freezing power of a super weapon. Feisty Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), her boyfriend Batman (Will Arnett, Arrested Development) and old wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman, Last Vegas) lead the resistance, rallying Emmett, pirate Metal Beard (Nick Offerman, We’re the Millers), 1980-something space guy Benny (Charlie Day, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Princess Uni-Kitty (Alison Brie, Community) into their attempt to save their world.
Bursting with energy and enthusiasm, and bubbling with both wit and warmth, The LEGO Movie buzzes through its narrative with the same vibrancy of a child playing with the famous bricks – and that’s the point. That the film is a big-budget toy – shiny in its brightly animated visuals, cheerful in its intentions and malleable in its outcome – is never in doubt as it succeeds at cementing its status as kinetic, candy-coloured confection. Obvious nostalgia is at work, the inbuilt affinity for the product an obvious motivation, but fun is the primary concern.
Cleverly and seemingly chaotically, Lord and Miller style their effort in the manner of their inspiration, and not just in the expected aesthetic sense, seen in the intricately detailed rendering of the familiar Lego figures, shapes and objects on screen. Subplots snap breezily together, sometimes supporting the main story, other times comfortable as satirical diversions. The camera swoops and swirls through a sea of vantage points, embodying the inventiveness of the form. Enhancing the appeal to audiences of all ages, gag after gag hits the mark, be it the spoofing of film genres, an amusing pop culture reference, or one of the many smart non-sequiturs.
For The LEGO Movie’s entire duration, its zaniness builds, bit by bit, into a boisterous contemplation of order versus creativity. It’s a fitting overall theme, and one that adds depth to an already endearing effort. In the infectiously enjoyable offering that eventuates, the filmmakers’ unseen hands pick up their cinematic pieces and play with them, happily and humorously, for the benefit of glee-filled viewers.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5The Lego Movie
Director: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Australia / US, 2014, 100 mins
Release date: April 3
Distributor: Roadshow
Rated: PG
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