The LEGO Movie

This energetic, eye-popping CGI comedy/adventure starring Denmark's LEGO interlocking plastic construction toys is set in the miniature city of Bricksburg, where benevolent wizard Vitruvius (voiced by Morgan Freeman) confronts power-hungry Corporate CEO President Business (Will Ferrell) with an ancient prophecy that a Special will someday arise to dismantle the rigid conformity that keeps its citizens confined to their respective realms. Several years later, Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), an anti-corporate goth girl activist, enlightens lowly construction worker Emmet Brikowski (Chris Pratt), an obedient conformist who repeats instructions such as: always use a turn signal, park between the lines, root for the local sports teams, drink overpriced coffee, and don't forget to smile. When Emmet inadvertently stumbles upon the mysterious “Piece of Resistance,” Wyldstyle misguidedly sees ordinary Emmet as the master-builder, even if he isn't “the most important, most talented, most interesting, and most extraordinary person in the universe.” Meanwhile, Business plots total domination, utilizing a secret super-weapon, and his henchman—swivel-headed Bad Cop/Good Cop (Liam Neeson)—is determined to catch Emmet, who is aided by Batman (Will Arnett) and other cohorts, including Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), Green Lantern (Jonah Hill) and Superman (Channing Tatum). Riffing off The Truman Show, Toy Story and Star Wars, among others, co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have created a timely, cleverly satirical tale that is subversively filled with sight gags, amusing jokes, a potent message, and an unexpected plot twist at the conclusion. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an audio commentary by directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord with costars Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, and Chris Pratt, the production featurettes “Bringing LEGO to Life” (13 min.), “See It! Build It” (12 min.), and “Stories from the Story Team” (4 min.), “Fan-Made Films: Top Secret Submissions” (4 min.), a sing-along for the soundtrack song “Everything Is Awesome” (3 min.), deleted scenes (3 min.), outtakes (3 min.), the companion shorts “Enter the Ninjago” (2 min.), “Alleyway Test, “Batman: A True Artist,” and “Michelangelo & Lincoln: History Cops,” as well as trailers. The Blu-ray release also includes bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for an awesome movie.] (S. Granger)