The Lego Movie **** (2014, voices of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Jonah Hill, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman) – Movie Review

Chris Pratt provides the voice of Emmet Brickowoski, an ordinary Lego mini-figure, who is mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder and recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant, Lord Business (voice of Will Ferrell), bent on destroying their Lego universe by gluing it all together.

Against all odds, and I can hardly believe I’m saying this, The Lego Movie is a brilliantly witty, funny, clever and charming animated film, with a great glossy look to it in really effective 3D. The ideas, characters, jokes and puns just keep coming at ya in a thrillingly fast-moving movie with never a dull moment. It’s a toy story adults can safely see, no should go out of their way to see, even if there are no kids to take.

Two esteemed movie elder statesmen are among the actors involved on the soundtrack. Though unexpected recruits to the world of Lego, they prove valuable assets. You can tell their glorious tones immediately. Morgan Freeman provides the voice of the seemingly wise and sonorous old Vitruvius and Liam Neeson that of Bad Cop/Good Cop. Both of them are very funny. Elizabeth Banks is another help, with a lot to do as the vocals of Wyldstyle/Lucy.

Not having liked Lego as a kid, to be honest I was dreading The Lego Movie. But, it’s not really about Lego at all, though it’s the main ingredient, but about having fun with intertwining the Lego pieces with characters from other movies, most notably Batman/Bruce Wayne (voice of Will Arnett). Batman’s supposed to be Lucy’s boyfriend, much to the dismay of Emmet, but he’s a bit of a cad and a bounder, wanting lovin’ time off with the Star Wars crew, though he quickly returns when he discovers they’ll all dudes.

Green Lantern (voice of Jonah Hill), Gandalf, C-3PO, Wonder Woman, Shakespeare, Abraham Lincoln (voice of Will Forte) and Superman (voice of Channing Tatum) all also appear, all getting perfectly timed laughs. Wow! All it’s very post-modern, but in a good way.

Like the song in the movie, Everything Is Awesome about The Lego Movie! The mini-geniuses behind this are Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who also provide the hilarious, inventive screenplay. A really daft idea for a movie pays of mega time. Brilliantly done, lads! It just goes to show, it really is it ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it.

In the credits at the end, the Warner Bros and Village Roadshow Pictures logos are made up of Lego bricks. The credits are very cute, definitely worth staying for. Everything Is Awesome!

But, in an unforgiveable snub, there was no Best Animated Feature Film Oscar nomination for The Lego Movie.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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