By Patrick Morey, News Correspondent
They have constructed enormous life-like buildings and figures, had entire theme parks dedicated to them, been the subject of various books and video games and been scattered on everyone’s living room floor at some point. Now, the iconic Lego bricks star on the big screen in “The Lego Movie.” No longer do families have to suffer through two hours at the movie theater to satisfy the younger generations as this hilarious, quirky, self-reverential and heartwarming movie is a must-see for people of all ages.
Written and directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord (“21 Jump Street,” “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”), this lovable animated film follows the story of a Lego minifigure named Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt), a normal, law-abiding Lego who desperately attempts to fit in with his co-workers and neighbors in Lego City. Emmet’s life is soon turned upside down, however, when he learns that he is the “Special,” a prophesied hero chosen to thwart the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell) and his plot to destroy the Lego world.
One of the many aspects of the animated feature that makes it so great is the star power amassed throughout the film, both in terms of voice talent and recognizable, beloved Lego characters. Some minifigures viewers can expect to see include Batman, Green Lantern, Han Solo, Gandalf, C-3PO, Superman, William Shakespeare, Wonder Woman and Abraham Lincoln. Not only are these classic characters seen throughout, but the voices behind them are also some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Along with Ferrell and Pratt, the cast includes Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Will Forte, Morgan Freeman, Jonah Hill, Liam Neeson, Nick Offerman and even Shaquille O’Neal, who – go figure – plays a Lego version of himself. These characters and stars help the movie appeal to multiple generations and illuminate a lighter side of Hollywood where celebrities refuse to take themselves too seriously.
A lot of the humor in the film derives from its pokes and jabs at pop culture. From premium priced lattes to snooty baristas and bromidic sitcoms, nothing is off limits. Not only are these observations often hilarious, but they deliver a sincere message as well. The movie begs its audience to think about these various aspects of pop culture and whether or not they really should hold as much value in our society as they do now. Instead, “The Lego Movie” declares it’s OK to be different and express one’s own individuality rather than blindly follow whatever society deems to be “good.”
The humor in the film certainly does appeal to people of all ages, but there are also other messages targeted for older age groups that make the movie a different experience for them. Emmet has the same routine every morning, watches the same show while eating breakfast and listens to the same song on the way to a construction job where he does the same tasks every day. Any adult would be familiar with this daily struggle, and the film identifies the monotony of these mundane routines and dares the audience to break free and try something new.
Without giving too much away, the last act of this movie takes a huge risk that could have ruined the entire film, but since it was so wonderfully written and executed, it takes the movie to new heights. Within this last act, the age-old theme of “you are never too old to be a child” shines through and leaves the audience with a warm heart, and the potential for a pair of teary eyes.
Luckily, “The Lego Movie” is still in theaters, playing multiple times a day. So as the semester winds down and work piles up, this journey into the whimsical world of Legos provides a fun, comical, uplifting escape from the daily grind for just about everybody.
