This review was originally published on a separate site in March 2015.
In 2014, animation was looking rather sparse. Pixar released no new film after The Good Dinosaur was pushed back for late 2015, Blue Sky Studios thought it best to capitalise on one of its more creative films by turning it into a failed franchise, Dreamworks were hit with financial lows for all of their films (including the highly-regarded How to Train Your Dragon 2) and all studios were forced to be compared to box office juggernaut Frozen, which had a spell on the box office all year long despite its release in late 2013 - not even Disney's follow-up Big Hero 6 could earn the same amount of recognition, even with it's Best Animated Feature Oscar. But one film, a film which when announced was instantly criticised as a ninety-minute advert for toys, managed to capture audiences' hearts all the way back in February 2014 was The LEGO Movie. The LEGO Movie was an anomaly. The brainchild of Phil Lord & Chris Miller (who also rebooted 21 Jump Street and created the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs series), it follows a storyline consistent with multiple genres of film - an average joe saving the day - and makes it unique.
The story goes that Emmet (voiced by Chris Pratt), an "ordinary, regular, generic construction worker" who accidently finds the Piece of Resistance - an ancient relic which has the power to thwart the evil President Business' (Will Ferrell) to put everything in its place - following a brief encounter with Master Builder Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks). Hunted by Business' two-faced lackey Good/Bad Cop (Liam Neeson in a dual role), Emmet joins Wyldstyle and a handful of other Master Builders, ranging from wizards (Morgan Freeman), animal hybrids (Alison Brie) and superheroes (Will Arnett) as he must live up to the prophecy: to be "the greatest, most interesting, most important person of all times". Why? Well, "because it rhymes". Yes, comedy is a key component to this film, and it's evident just from that story outline, because without it it'd come across as nothing new. Arguably, it isn't; many films in the past have used comedy to their advantage when following an overdone story line. And yet, LEGO somehow pushes it past the limit by getting jokes in left-right and centre, either coming from the character's mouths, their actions, or just something in the background that you notice in a later viewing (My personal favourite? A pig breaking into sausages when it crashes onto land. Genius). As someone who can often watch a comedy without a smirk, this is hilarious content, thanks to all three aspects - something which all comedies need to follow.
It should be pointed out that a good comedy also has likable characters, and that is something of a specialty with The LEGO Movie, as there's isn't a single unlikable character out of the whole roster. Firstly, Chris Pratt's charming idiot Emmet is something of a lovable goof, simply trying to live his every day and clearly growing as a character throughout. Pratt's delivery is great help in selling the character, as he replicates his Parks and Recreation skills to create an equally likable idiot. Elizabeth Banks adds a mixture of tough and tolerance as Wyldstyle, as she slowly warms to Emmet and his ways without losing any of her courageous prowess, whilst boyfriend Batman is an excellent mockery of the modern iterations of the character, right down to his song. Morgan Freeman's mysterious mentor is a delight, with Freeman revelling in the role; the rest of the Master Builder crew (Brie, Charlie Day and Nick Offerman) all have their places in the spotlight despite their belated introductions; Ferrell as the villainous Business is surprisingly menacing, and the strange yet strong duo of Good/Bad Cop is a stroke of genius, leading to emotional and hilarious highs. Not a single character can be faulted. Are they perfect? Of course not. Together, they make the biggest band of misfits in cinema history. And yet it works.
What's even more impressive is the animation. In other mediums, LEGO characters tend to be placed in bland, generic backgrounds, making them stand out in the non-brick landscapes. Here, everything is LEGO. The water, the buildings, the whole shebang. The only times in which there isn’t LEGO, it's part of the grander scheme of things. But not only does it follow the LEGO aesthetic, but it follows it in detail, with fingerprints and smudges on multiple objects and figures - all made clear in a surprising and heart-warming third act which features an equal blend of comedy and character. The animation is a character within itself, and it makes the lack of Oscar nomination all the more disgraceful.
The LEGO Movie is the start of something new. Whilst on the outset it comes across as a simple cash grab with an annoyingly catchy tune, in actuality it's an utterly charming creation. Is it with its faults? Yes. Sometimes things go too quickly, which can alienate viewers as they try and catch up, and some characters, such as MetalBeard and Benny, are given little to do by comparison of the likes of Batman and Vitruvius, but its stellar voice cast and eye-catching visuals help sell the product beyond any major criticism. It built up a whole new universe of films to enjoy (with a sequel, Batman spin-off and a Ninjago film all scheduled for the next few years) and is a true delight for rewatches. 9/10.
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