The LEGO Movie

Release Date: Feb 07, 2014 
Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min. 
Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller 
Cast: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson.

Back when "The LEGO Movie" was first announced, the whole idea sounded absurd. The prospect of a film based entirely on toy blocks seemed more like a marketing ploy than anything else. Yet lo and behold, if they can dream it, they can build it — and surprisingly enough, it's a movie worth seeing. From the writers that brought us "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," comes a quirky new adventure set in the intricate realm of LEGO's. Voice-led by Chris Pratt and a handful of stars, it's an elevated take on a childhood classic. Emmet, played by Pratt, is an everyday construction worker, ordinary and faceless to all those around him. But when a prophecy calls upon a "Special" to thwart the evil doings of the "Kragle," it's up to him to rise to the challenge and go from zero to hero. At first glance, it may seem like an average underdog tale, a rehash of morals and conventional values. But residing deeper is a story much more intellectual than that, as ingeniously clever and creative as that of "Toy Story." Through its rigid movements and constructed environments, the film embraces the versatility of its star, in this case the LEGO piece. The animation is unique in that very sense and stirs up the nostalgia of being a kid all over again. What's more are the colorful characters that inhabit the world, from Batman to Bad Cop/Good Cop to "1980's Space Astronaut Guy." They really validate the limitlessness of it all when it comes to imagination, particularly in line with the climax that will be left unsaid. While some scenes can come off as theatrical and divergent in tone, "The LEGO Movie" is a film that's truly built for all ages. With a sequel already in the works and positive box office results, there will be plenty of more chances to recapture our youth.

Rating: 4 stars