The Lego Movie

The Lego Group’s ideology revolves around creativity and the freedom to build anything, brick by tiny brick. It’s been the go-to building toy for generations of kids, with sets spanning every genre and pop culture icon. The Lego Movie is a culmination of everything that is Lego and what the company represents. Just like its product, the film is colorful, creative, and fun for the entire family.

Emmet (Chris Pratt) is just your average everyday construction worker who always follows the instructions and never deviates from the norm. Like everyone else in the city, his favorite song is “Everything is Awesome,” his favorite TV show is Where Are My Pants?, and he enjoys drinking overpriced coffee. While everyone has some trait that makes them different, Emmet is about as ordinary as them come.

The Lego Movie sends out the message that even the most ordinary of people can become extraordinary. Emmet is you’re basic yellow mini-figure construction worker, but when he accidentally stumbles upon the legendary special piece that can save the universe from the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell) he becomes a part of something much, much bigger. According to the prophecy, Emmet is the Special, the greatest of all the Master Builders who can create anything from bricks. The Master Builders are led by the blind wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) and are trying to put an end to Lord Business’s rule, who is attempting to freeze the world in place using a mysterious weapon known as the Kragle.

Much of The Lego Movie’s charm comes from building the entire world using Lego bricks. Every little detail has been painstakingly reimagined in Lego form or everyday objects are given new meaning. The Kragle, for instance, is simply a tube of Krazy Glue that has had some of its letters rubbed off. The humor can be very subtle at times, though the majority of the film’s dialogue is one hilarious statement after another in rapid fire succession. They aren’t only tailored to kids, either. A lot of the humor is geared towards adults as well.

Young children probably are not going to understand all the jokes about Batman being an orphan or Superman’s distaste of Green Lantern, but their parents sure will. The sheer cast of characters is another great thing about The Lego Movie. Having various DC heroes, Abraham Lincoln, a unicorn kitty, and others occupying the same film would be madness elsewhere but when everything is in Lego bricks it makes sense. Even characters who only make small cameo appearances leave lasting impressions.

The Lego Movie is the funniest animated film of the year, and while it’s only February I imagine I’ll be saying the same thing come December. On the surface it features a great cast of characters with witty and humorous dialogue. Take a deeper look at its story, however, and you’ll find a shining example of everything creative The Lego Group stands for.