Musings On... The Lego Movie

Perhaps you raised an arch eyebrow when you first heard they were making a Lego movie. The eyebrow probably sunk a little when you saw the stars that were signing up to do voiceovers. But big stars are always signing up to do animated movies, right? It's easy money. The eyebrow will have sunk back to its initial resting position after the deliciously over-the-top prologue scene, where the Obi-Wan and Darth Vader-esque characters (voiced by Morgan Freeman and Will Ferrell respectively) have a plot-setting square off.

Will Ferrell voices the Darth Vader-esque Lord Business

That same eyebrow will raise all the way back up, joined by its opposite number, during the first post-prologue scene. It's just an average looking person waking up in his apartment, then going to work in a metropolis. But the sheer detail on show is simply awe-inspiring. Your eyes will strain and struggle to take it all in, and you'll know immediately that you're going to want to see it again on the big screen, then buy the DVD and watch it all over. New York never looked this busy on screen. Neither did London, Paris, Tokyo, or any other of the world's most famously bustling cities. And it's all made out of Lego.

While it appears to be old-school stop-motion, the visuals are actually entirely digital. There's a plastic physicality to the animation though, and it just looks right – exactly how you'd want a Lego movie to look. The way in which the Lego itself is used is joyful. A giant motorbike is made out of pieces of rubbish in an alleyway. Vehicles are blown up in high-speed chases, then reassembled as the bricks fly through the air.

I won't reveal too many details of the plot. Partly due to its blatant, consistent, and entirely appropriate flaunting of logic it's impossible to guess where the story will head next, which is immensely fun. The story's main character looks like every generic Lego man you've ever seen. His neighbours don't remember his name (it's Emmet, though I did have to look it up myself), his construction co-workers barely acknowledge his existence, and he relies on a state-issued manual to remember to breathe. Despite all of this, in true fantasy film fashion he stumbles into becoming 'The Chosen'. From then on it's classic you've-got-the-wrong-guy fare... but you'll never have believed quite so truly that they did get the wrong guy, as the scale of Emmet's ineptitude is revealed.

Emmet - you'll never have believed quite so truly that they did get the wrong guy

There are cameos aplenty throughout the film, but again I wouldn't want to spoil them, half the enjoyment of the movie coming from not knowing who'll pop up next (although players of the Lego video games over the past decade or so will be able to take some educated guesses). One of the (many) pleasant surprises in the film was how irreverently it treated the stars of massive franchises.

The most impressive element of the film was the script, which is smart as a whip. This isn't especially surprising given the pedigree of its two lead writers, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, both of whom worked on Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street. It's full of one-liners, movie references, knowingly-cheesy lines, and a heavy dose of satire: sitcoms, pop music and overpriced coffee chains all come under fire. There are chuckles and belly-laughs throughout.

Sitcoms, pop music and overpriced coffee chains all come under fire

The movie throws jokes at the audience at almost Naked Gun levels. This style isn't for everyone, but it does help to keep the tone light throughout, classic major studio animation movie moralising being kept to a minimum. As with real stand-up comedy which relies heavily on one-liners, the rapidity of pretty similar jokes were beginning to draw thin by about the two-thirds mark, as was the helter-skelter plot. But then, just as the final good/evil showdown is beginning... it's getting tougher to avoid spoilers... something happens which reinvigorates the movie and then some, and gives it the emotional oomph it was previously lacking.

After you see this, you will want to live in the Lego universe, regardless of your age (if you didn't already). The film is an enormous success, it's utterly charming, and it has to be seen as one of the surprises of the year so far, especially coming from such a massive, careful franchise. You leave the cinema feeling like you've been on an adventure, and ready for the inevitable sequel.

Can I end a review of The Lego Movie without discussing that song? Guess not. Don't Youtube it unless you're absolutely sure you'll never see the actual film – you wouldn't get the full effect. If you do see it, prepare to be singing that stupid, amazing song in your head for day after day after day. It does neatly summarise the film for which it was created though:

Everything is awesooooome.