Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Written by Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Starring the voices of Chris Pratt, Morgan Freeman, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell
“Everything is Awesome” is the tune that runs through this terrific movie, and it is running through my head five days later. It’s not a particularly memorable tune, but it sticks for people who enjoy the particular level of hell called earwigs. But other than that, this was one fantastic film. It was so much better than it needed to be on every level.
Emmet (Chris Pratt) is a resident of Bricksburg, a construction worker, in fact and there is nothing wrong in his little world. Sure, nobody much notices him, but he retains little memory of that because well, “Everything is Awesome” or so the people are reminded constantly.
Left on site late one night, Emmet stumbles into another world where revolutionary forces, led by a Pussy Riot sort of woman (Elizabeth Banks) and Vetruivius (Morgan Freeman) are looking for the one who will lead them out of this conformity: The Master Builder. Emmet looks to be the one until they look more closely.
There is no way to capture the barrage of great jokes, lines and scenes in this film without spoiling it for you. Sure, some of it’s familiar—all dystopias share common threads. But the execution, both technically and thematically, is thrilling. And the life-action sequence at the end is especially brilliant. You would have to be a real curmudgeon not to love THE LEGO MOVIE, and if you can see it with a seven-year old, who explains the jokes to you, even better. Highly recommended.
Patti Abbott
