The LEGO Movie (Movie Review)

Lego. The word is synonymous with every generation that's come before, and after. They're multi coloured toy bricks that have captured the imaginative, creative minds of trillions, appearing in many forms, and spawned from many franchises. There really isn't much more to say about the matter that wouldn't make it redundant really quickly.
This toy license has continued to flourish throughout the ages, however despite its unfathomable success, it was still a surprise to see a movie translated to the screen based on these miniature building blocks. But whats even more surprising is it works, boasting an endearing, heartfelt, and well thought out plot that speaks volumes for young, and old alike.

Wait. A movie about toy bricks? Thought out? Endearing? Heartfelt? Volumes? Seriously? Seriously.

Everyone living on this planet has experienced Lego in some point in their life, and this movie isn't afraid to remind them all of that fond experience. Truth be told, the filmmakers could've gone with a very simplistic movie, with toilet humour and uninteresting characters, supported by an unfunny script. So, its to their credit that they went into the opposite direction, resulting in the surprise hit of the year.
So, whats the story? The LEGO Movie tells a tale of a one Emmet (Chris Pratt), a LEGO man, who is an average joe working at a construction site, who has no special traits about him whatsoever, except he's the chosen one to stop the evil, tyrannical Lord Business (Will Ferrell) from gluing the entire LEGO Universes together! There's just one problem, Emmet hasn't had a creative thought in his head for, well, ever! Cue non-stop action, and adventure as Emmet and his friends are chased from one LEGO world to the next by Lord Business' police force, led by Good Cop/Bad Cop (brilliantly casted as Liam Neeson). There is hardly a dull moment as this stop-motion/CGI combo animated feature goes from one quick-witted joke to the next, supported by an exceptional cast, uttering memorable/referenced lines as "Come with me if you want to not die", and characters you'll care, and root for for the entire duration of the film. Well, what would you expect from the directors who brought us the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies.

Yes, its all fun and games with The LEGO Movie, but for all its jokes, and its amazing attention to Lego-bricked detail scenery, you'll walk out of the cinema with a feeling of empathy. After all, this is a movie about Lego, and as such the filmmakers take us grown ups down memory lane, to a time when we started as Emmet, with no knowledge of brick laying of any kind, to the Master Builders we'd all become once we allowed our minds to open, as Emmet himself finds out. Don't be surprised if you find yourself getting emotional; there's a reason why its known as "the good 'ol days".
And for the kids, it brings about an amazing message that'll encourage them for the rest of their lives; everyone is special in their own way, as Morgan Freeman's Vitruvius says "Don't concentrate on what the others are doing, concentrate on what YOU are doing". Its a great thing to witness, and to take in as we suddenly begin to believe in ourselves. Everyone may be better than you at something, but nobody is better at what you do. Remember, there is only one YOU, and nothing can take that away.

When someone says a movie is "fun for the whole family", it usually doesn't mean it, but in this case it does. The LEGO Movie is one where parents won't be sitting in for their children, they'll be sitting in WITH their children. As the movie's theme song suggests; "Everything is Awesome!", and its hard to disagree.