The Lego Movie

I've seen this before, but watched this again tonight with my family. I think the movie is overall pretty good. The animation is clever and creative. It's very funny. It contains many great messages too. But I will say it's execution in the messaging is the films weak spot. It has a lot of great ideas of what it wants to say. I love the message of being your own individual rather than just going with the flow. That's something that too many in today's society struggle with. Independent thought is often discouraged. We tend to find a group we feel comfortable with and just go along with whatever group you've placed yourself in. While it's fine to find a community that makes us feel safe, it's important to always maintain independent thought. But really that's only part of the message of the film, the other aspect is where I think it tumbles just a bit This section is going to have spoilers as it's hard to comment on this part without spoiling. But another message deals with there not being one correct way to play with LEGOs. As it's revealed at the end that the struggle of the film happens in the imagination of a young boy in the real world and Lord Business represents his father. The whole film doesn't really shy away from portraying the father's character as the villain. The father has a certain specific vision he wants to build and doesn't want to stray from it and doesn't want his kid to touch it. In my view, the father wanting his own space to build how he wants to does not make him a villain. He's allowed to have his own space, his own hobby. There is nothing wrong with telling his kid he cannot play with the LEGOs in his area. But it's also about the dad recognizing the kid for his own different sense of creativity and that part is fine. It just kind of undermines it's own message of there not being one correct way to play with LEGOs and then vilify the father for wanting to use the LEGOs in his own way. Overall though the film is fun and a good time. I just have mixed feelings on the ending of the film and it kind of conflicts with the message that the film is trying to say. Still solid movie though. 8/10