By ANDY GILCHRIST
Arts Editor
It’s nearly impossible to make a movie that everyone will like. Everybody has different tastes in genre, actors, digital vs. practical effects, big vs. low budget, and so on. Where one aspect of a film may please some viewers, it might ruin it entirely for others. And films that may appeal to most adults, such as those in the running during awards season, usually contain themes and content that are inappropriate for children.
Thus, if there’s a movie that everyone can enjoy, it’s almost always a kid’s movie. While most people assume that the movies in this genre appeal only to children, sometimes one sneaks up on viewers and includes more mature themes such as growing up, getting older, and even life and death itself. These movies contain a level of emotion that most PG-rated movies wouldn’t even think to include and are described as “fun for the whole family.”
While that phrase is vastly overused, it absolutely applies to The Lego Movie. While the thought of a movie based on Legos seems like a terrible idea and just a way to make more money through toy sales, the film is actually well written and directed, emotional, and thought provoking. Overall, it’s the first must-see movie of the year.
Emmett (Chris Pratt) is a construction worker living in a heavily structured Lego city, a place where everyone does the same thing every day. They literally follow the instructions, unknowingly helping the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell) maintain control of the universe. Emmett does his best to follow directions and be like everyone else, but just doesn’t seem to fit in.
One day, he stumbles upon a mysterious, glowing item known as the Piece of Resistance. A prophecy made years ago states that whoever finds the Piece will defeat Lord Business and save the universe. Being literally the least qualified person for the job, Emmett nonetheless sets out on a quest to defeat the tyrant with the help of the fierce and dangerous Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), the wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), and even Batman (Will Arnett). But this adventure is not nearly as simple as it sounds and everyone involved will learn a lot not just about themselves, but about the very nature of the universe as well.
As Hollywood continues to remake every movie that ever turned a profit and make film adaptations of numerous 80s TV shows and toy lines, it was only a matter of time before Legos hit the big screen. But while most movies based on toys put nearly their entire budget into special effects and leave little for the script (Transformers, G.I. Joe), The Lego Movie always puts the story first. Though it is filled with amazing effects, they only appear to serve the plot or to show the vastness of the Lego world.
The film comes from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who co-wrote and co-directed the movie and have developed a pattern in their short feature film career, alternating between family-friendly animated movies and raunchy live-action comedies. Beginning with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street, the duo continue the pattern with The Lego Movie and this summer’s highly anticipated sequel 22 Jump Street.
The movie follows the traditional Hero Cycle model, complete with the call to adventure, crossing the threshold, the mentor and allies, the transformation, and becoming the master of two worlds. This narrative is perfect for a children’s movie and has produced some of the most popular films of all time, such as Star Wars and The Matrix. By keeping it simple, the film appeals to children’s basic understanding of story while also drawing in an adult audience to its familiar storyline.
It’s clear throughout the film that Lord and Miller are both lifelong Lego fans, cramming as much about the franchise into the 100-minute film as they can. Past playsets like Lego Ninja, Pirates, Wild West, and Space, as well as current lines like Star Wars and DC Superheroes, all make appearances, displaying the variety of products that Lego has produced over the years. By putting so much into the movie, an especially impressive feat considering all the cameos don’t slow it down or overwhelm the audience, Lord and Miller have not just made a great movie, they’ve also created an extensive and entertaining history of the Lego brand.
But the biggest reason The Lego Movie succeeds is because of its emotion and themes. Early on in the film, Emmett realizes that even though he does his best to fit in, his friends don’t really know him, describing him as average and not having any outstanding qualities. His journey to become the hero and save the day, which is filled with both laughter and sadness, can serve as inspiration not only for children struggling to learn who they are as they get older, but people of any age who find themselves unfulfilled with their lives.
Similarly, a main theme of the film is to not just blindly follow directions, to branch out and be your own person, with the Lego minifigures in the movie literally ignoring the paper instructions that govern their lives. This is not some call for revolution or anarchy in the streets. It is quite literally telling people to do what you want to do with their lives and not letting anyone else tell them how to live it, a message that everyone can understand and appreciate.
2014 has seen nearly three months of film go by, ranging from big-budget blockbusters, low-budget handheld horror, no- budget indie movies, and everything in between. And yet, it’s a kid’s movie based on a more than 60-year-old toy line that has risen to the top. If we get more movies like this, studio-backed productions that put story over effects and truly have something for everyone, then it’s going to be a great year at the movies.