Watching The Lego Movie took me back to Toy Story, both of them supposedly children’s movies. Once this term was used dismissively by sophisticated adults who thought a film had to be directed by a Bergman or Fellini in order to have Meaning. As those of you who have followed my reviews through the years know, I’ve never regarded myself as “sophisticated.” I revel in the plethora of “children’s movies” that not only entertain us amidst roars of laughter, but also that leave us with something for the mind to think about after we have left the theater.
This is certainly the case with this film based on the hugely popular Lego interlocking building bricks. I look back on my own pre-Lego childhood and fondly remember Tinker Toys, Erector Sets, and simple building blocks, each of which fueled my imagination and creativity over long hours of the day. Legos were just becoming popular when my own children were young, and today the newer sets are incredibly diverse with far more complicated projects possible, even with special little people and super heroes. Filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have conjured up an entire Lego Universe for their exciting movie. The film is so crowded with sight and sound gags that it is going to take this somewhat slow-minded viewer more than just a couple of viewings to catch all of them. I hope also that the film will suggest to parents wise enough to watch with their children (and when it comes out on DVD I suspect grandparents also) that they talk about the meaning of some of the events, and maybe even encourage their child to launch out more on their own when playing with the toys. That wonderful live action last scene might also get fathers (and moms in single parent families) to think more about how they are relating to their son or daughter. How I love this film !
