The LEGO Movie Blu-Ray Review

Director(s): Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Starring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Nick Offerman

Certificate: U

Running Time: 100 minutes

Out among the possibilities of film and animation, THE LEGO MOVIE sounded like a great idea but how would it ever be accessible, interesting and just as fun as it is in real life? Well, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller already did quirky successfully after bringing forth the unexpected hit of CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS in 2009. From this they grabbed something else that shouldn’t have worked and revamped 21 JUMP STREET, with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, and made something pretty darn unique.

THE LEGO MOVIE is completely original as it effortlessly clicks together different parts of a well-known brand and also adds something that both adults and kids can love. LEGO has always had that extra place in the heart of many, including myself, because you can literally build anything you want. In the movie, we focus around Emmet who is voiced by the man to watch this year, Chris Pratt. Emmet is an ordinary Lego construction worker, out and about following his usual day-to-days rules but then gets caught up in a prophecy and everyone thinks he’s the ‘special one‘ – much like THE MATRIX – but he’s not, or is he? His quest is to stop evil tyrant Lord Business (Will Ferrell) from gluing the Lego universe into eternal stasis and therefore being forever the same.

All the big stars lend their voice talents to a whole host of new characters and well-known ones including Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman but what’s truly bizarre is the connection you get to the newer ones and this is also why THE LEGO MOVIE succeeds.  It’s not so much that you love an underdog, it’s the fact they’ve got style and reality entwined with the ridiculous of the situation. As well as feeling the individuality of each character, you get to hear Liam Neeson’s truly bonkers ‘Bad Cop/Good Cop’, with the latter taking on a strange high-pitched camp Irish cop voice – something you just couldn’t make up.

Much like TOY STORY and more recently the (very) underrated WRECK-IT RALPH, the team tap into the humanistic side and before you know it, you’re not only rooting for the underdog hero but you actually care for the outcome. THE LEGO MOVIE isn’t all about sentiment though, it’s funny, very silly and  a whole of fun with references far and wide that makes it a film for the whole family without ever hitting cliché.

Unlike anything you’ve seen in this genre before, THE LEGO MOVIE takes that unexpected spot between the memories of being a kid and building anything and everything, it throws in an element of surprise, adds even more ridiculousness and still manages to make it brilliant. The song will also never leave your head, trust me. Everything IS awesome. Damn it.

[usr=4] THE LEGO MOVIE is available to buy on 3D Blu-ray and DVD from July 21st. You can buy it here.