So…the Lego Movie is happening. And based on the look of it they were aiming for the glory of Who Framed Roger Rabbit but fell into the depths of half-assery.
The initial concept — to make a movie set in the Lego world — is a good one. But the execution of The Lego Movie looks clunky, visually too dark, and not very funny. Admittedly, it’s possible that I’m not the audience for this film. In the trailer when they’re doing a role call and they list Superman, Wonder Woman, and Michelangelo (the ninja turtle) amongst their rank, I couldn’t relate. These characters were not the Lego characters of my youth. 1980-something space guy— that’s the Lego I remember.
From this trailer I got the sense there was going to be a lot of action and pizzazz in the story but none of the do-it-yourself spirit of a real Lego set. For this film to be successful, I think it has to lock into the wonder of building: the control, the accomplishment, the limitlessness. And I’m not sure tepid Batman jokes convey that.
I give the Lego Movie one star. I hate to do it too because I love Legos so much. They’re a true enabler of the imagination. Unfortunately, with the licensing agreements that have given rise to Batman, Star Wars, Spongebob, Harry Potter and everything else under the sun Lego sets, some of that imagination enabling has been diluted. This movie being the ultimate victim.
Trailerbites 