HOLLYWOOD—The Lego is the one toy in my opinion that was popular for my generation, and it appears to have continued its popularity with today’s youth. So it would only be fitting that in time, the Lego universe would head to the big screen.  “The Lego Movie” is a fun-filled extravaganza full of laughs and originality that will satisfy not just the young ones, but the adults also.

Some adults may already be familiar with the parodies of popular flicks involving the use of Legos, so take that idea and transform it into a full-blown movie.  I will admit the concept is quite interesting to say the least thanks to screenwriters Phil Lord and Chris Miller, as our story follows Emmett (voice of Chris Pratt), who is a construction worker, who is believed to be ‘The Special,’ a Master Builder who can save the Lego universe from the evil Lord Business (voice of Will Ferrell).

Based on that little tidbit of information, most adults and even some kids will be able to piece where the movie is headed. The picture is more so about the idea of opening the mind to things not expected.  We sometimes live in a bubble and limit ourselves to the actual things we can or the things we think we’re unable to do. Are the visuals to the picture a bit off, yes! There are mouth movements from the Lego characters, that will literally leave you falling out of the theater seat; its not that its bad graphics, its funny to imagine an inanimate object actually talk and move.

The film’s countless references to pop culture sheds a bit of light on the consumerism we exhibit as people. That’s the fun with this movie, there are so many inside jokes its easy to miss them.  While the kids are likely to miss most of them, the adults will catch every reference that the characters and even the settings the movie depicts.

Emmett’s journey is not traveled alone, as he has assistance from Wyldstyle (voice of Elizabeth Banks), Batman (voice of Will Arnett), Metalbeard (voice of Nick Offerman), Uni-Kitty (voice of Alison Brie), Vitruvius (voice of Morgan Freeman), as well as Superman, the Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. These characters all interact, like people that we know, not just in the pop culture universe, but in real life. The voices from the actors from this all-star cast is spot on; it meshes so well, you almost feel like you’re apart of the Lego Universe; isn’t that scary!

The idea of Legos and “The Lego Movie” is the imagination is an unbelievable tool in itself. It’s the first animated flick in my opinion that sets the bar extremely high in the 3D world, but also to inspire kids to experiment with things. “The Lego Movie” hands-down is one of the funniest rides I’ve been on in quite some time.

By LaDale Anderson