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The Independent Critic

VOCAL WORK BY
Alison Brie, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson, Nick Offerman, Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Pratt, and Charlie Day
DIRECTED BY
Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
SCREENPLAY
Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman
MPAA RATING
Rated PG
RUNNING TIME
100 Mins.
DISTRIBUTED BY
Warner Brothers Pictures

 

 "The Lego Movie" an Absolute Delight 
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In one of 2014's first truly wonderful surprises, The LEGO Movie is such an intelligent and inspired film that it's hard not wonder why the folks at Warner Brothers didn't manage to get it released in times for Academy Award consideration rather than leaving the film seemingly abandoned in the Winter wasteland of Hollywood's forgotten films.

While The LEGO Movie would have been hard-pressed to actually take home the golden statuette, 2013 was a rather disappointing year for animated features and it's not too difficult to imagine that this film could have easily knocked out one of the other less deserving nominees.

Unless you've lived under a Lincoln Log your entire life, you're already aware that The LEGO Movie is based upon the world of those beloved building blocks that have helped to build many a childhood wonder. While not exactly an original idea, The LEGO Movie is an inspired and even quietly subversive one thanks to the creative team behind Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Chris Miller and Phil Lord, who've managed to construct a film almost guaranteed to please both adults and children without insulting either one.

The film takes place in Brick City, where Emmet (Chris Pratt) is a boring but happy construction worker mistaken by Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) to be a once-in-a-lifetime MasterBuilder destined to stop an evil LEGO tyrant (Will Ferrell) from gluing the universe together.

Does it sound silly?

Oh it is. But, I promise you everything is awesome, awesome, awesome.

If you know the LEGO universe, and I can't fathom a reason you'd even be reading this review if you don't, then you likely already know that construction workers tend to be considered the lowest rung on the ladder while the universe's many special guests, think folks like Batman (Will Arnett), Han Solo (Keith Ferguson), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), and others, tend to be considered the real masters of the LEGO universe.

While I will openly admit that I found myself watching the trailer about a month ago absolutely convinced that The LEGO Movie was going to end up worthy of its early February calendar slot, the simple truth is that the trailer simply couldn't do justice to the imagination and care that went into building a better animated movie than one would ever expect this time of year. It seems like Lord and Miller have managed to truly tap into the mind of a LEGO loving child and nostalgic adult with a near perfect blend of rapid-fire humor and action sequences that work in this LEGO universe without taking on the intensity that can sometimes make a squeamish child squirm. The film, a Truly Moving Picture Award winner from Indy's own Heartland Truly Moving Pictures organization, is positive and inspiring to the max.

There really aren't too many things that I find myself wanting to share about The LEGO Movie because it is a film best experienced and best experienced as a beloved experience between adults and the children they love. The film itself is not flawless, but you'll be so busy having a wonderful time that its minor flaws won't prove to be even a bit distracting except for the sort of folks who are rather boring anyway.

I call them construction workers.

© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic