The Lego Movie Review
RYAN: The Lego Movie surprised me as highly anticipated as it is by young’uns everywhere. There’s great buzz for the movie and now we know why. It’s a fun, happy movie. Everything is Awesome. It feels like something that should have been done before; now here it is and it was done so right. It manages to be charming, clever, original and fresh yet totally nostalgic all at once.
MICHAEL: The Lego Movie has all the right pieces in all the right places!
RYAN: (laughs) Nice one!
MICHAEL: Thanks. One thing I loved about it is that it’s not the first feature length film with Lego characters…
RYAN: …but it’s the first to be released theatrically. The others were DVD and home video releases.
MICHAEL: Right. But based on Lego franchises, like Batman and Star Wars, everything moved organically in them like regular CGI animation and what was so unique about this new movie was that you could almost believe it was done in stop-motion because they move like Legos would.
RYAN: The animation and the way the Legos move in this is cool and almost takes getting used to because it is stuttered but it’s well animated and I love that it takes iconic characters as mini-figures along with new characters; there’s social commentary and heart and themes of holding onto being young at heart and childhood, fantasy versus reality, etc. It’s a very complete and fulfilling movie.
MICHAEL: With the characters you already know, we’re in an age where we like to see them all meshed together so seeing Batman, The Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings all in the same movie… This was an on-screen meeting of all these cool superheroes and other known franchises and characters… The referencing was insane!
RYAN: That was really delightful and thrilling to see them all come together. What’s most special is that the Lego brand has always built playsets around successful characters and we buy them, then follow the instructions and build them; but then we can take them apart and build whatever we want with our imaginations. This movie epitomizes that. It covers the creativity and originality of Lego – it’s inspiring.
MICHAEL: Could you believe the heck of the plot twist?! It turns the movie on its head and sort of calls out, reminding you it’s a Lego movie, just when you’re fully immersed in the adventure of it all. You do get taken back to childhood memories.
RYAN: The mini-figures have become really collectible over the last few years and Lego stores popping up around the country; and now this movie takes it all to the next level. It’s already set up for a sequel.
MICHAEL: I loved the inherent comedy set up with the physical limitations that Lego people have and then also the historic references were cool. Lots of different elements and then… the voice acting.
RYAN: I loved Morgan Freeman as the Wizard, Will Ferrell… You’re a huge Batman fan. How did you like Will Arnett as Batman?
MICHAEL: He was fabulous. A fanboy’s dream team up involving Batman and another iconic franchise was such a total moment.
RYAN: Oh, we won’t give anything away but that was the best moment of the whole movie!
MICHAEL: Totally. The voice talent and casting was brilliant. Liam Neeson was remarkable.
RYAN: And Elizabeth Banks was phenom. The music is catchy and great. It’s a very strong, smart script filled with cleverness and comedy.
MICHAEL: Almost distractingly funny.
RYAN: It’s a definitely a movie for all ages; a family film that will captivate the whole family. No demeaning adults and not over the heads of kids.
