Lego The Movie by Aaron McCarthy
The greatest works of fiction have the innate ability to transcend the age groups. The Harry Potter books were known for being marketed at both kids and adults, PIXAR films have a reputation for making grown men cry (i.e. the ending of Toy Story 3). Joining this rank of universally engaging works is The LEGO movie.
A fact that not many people realise is that the LEGO empire almost collapsed in the early noughties. However, they swiftly picked themselves up and they have never looked back. LEGO is the second most popular toy company in the world and its video game adaptations have gained a reputation for “tie-in” video games that are actually good. With its partnership with Warner Bros. LEGO can seem to do no wrong. This is why they took the brave move to turn to movies.
Outwardly, the LEGO movie is a 90 minute long commercial yet while watching it you never seem like you are being marketed at; you are instead having fun. The graphics in the movie are incredible with the whole world built out of LEGO blocks. The producers have taken imaginative steps to convey LEGO waves, explosions and high-action vehicles. It holds that PIXAR-esque charm that draws you in and suspends your disbelief. The plot is fundamentally basic: good guy must stop bad guy. It’s been done millions of times before yet it contains enough twists along the way to keep even the most seasoned of viewers watching.
The LEGO movie‘s greatest asset, that which gives it much of its charm, is the cameos: Batman; Superman; Abraham Lincoln; William Shakespeare; Dumbledore; Gandalf. These cameos, and buckets more, play off universally beloved characters and other franchises such as the hilarious moment when the Star Wars lads pay the main gang of Master Builders a visit.
The cameos, and the dialogue, are extremely funny. The producers use clever, unexpected gags. They never downplay anything and they direct nothing exclusively towards children. Anyone can enjoy the jokes and everyone can laugh along with them.
The movie has a fast-paced tempo. At one moment you may be laughing along to an in-world TV show about pants, the next moment you might be gritting your teeth at the incrediblyannoying but very addictive song Everything is Awesome; the moment after that you might be on the edge of your seat fully engaged in a high-speed chase.
The only part of the movie that I felt disappointed with was the route they took at the end, a tact used by so many films of this nature. It broke the escapism yet it played out well and in the end I couldn’t help but smile.
The LEGO movie is one of the greats. Worthy of PIXAR, as though created by the King of Animation (Walt Disney himself), it will have you laughing, holding back tears and wondering why the man voicing Batman did not star in the Dark Knight trilogy -a surprising hit that will beloved by all. It may be a commercial but when it’s this good, LEGO can advertise all they want.
Easily the best movie of 2014 and it’s only March. There is only way to describe this movie: “Everything is Awesome”.