The Lego Movie
2014
****
Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Cast: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman
Emmet is a construction worker who lives in the city of Bricksburg. A prophecy claims that this uncreative and nondescript everyman is a special Master Builder who is destined for greatness. The famous Danish block manufacturer gives us 100 minutes of product placement, but thankfully also great entertainment for the whole family. Everything in this universe is made of Lego, and the twitchy visuals make it look like a stop motion animation. All the characters are wonderfully drawn and played, and they offer some suprising franchise cross-overs. The action moves at breakneck speed, which can be overwhelming and exhausting at times, but it also enables the film to squeeze in loads and loads of gags which demand repeated viewings.
