Who would have thought that a potentially cynical extended toy commercial would turn out to be one of the most heartwarming and flat-out hilarious movies of the year? Writer/directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller bring imagination, inventiveness and no shortage of humor to The Lego Movie, resulting in 100 minutes of the purest entertainment available. Using cutting-edge animation techniques to create a lo-fi aesthetic that reflects the limited mobility of Lego figurines, the story follows everyman minfig Emmett who could very well be 'The Special' foretold in a prophecy to save the universe from the megalomaniac Lord Business. If it sounds ridiculous that's because it is, but the movie is infused with such irreverence and inspiration that the plot is really the least interesting part of the movie. An infuriatingly catchy soundtrack, a voice-cast loaded with hilarious re-imaginings of popular characters, and a script as smart as it is funny combine to create one of the best and most creative animated features in years. The Lego Movie opened to an impressive $69m at the domestic box office, and has since earned over $250m Stateside. Strangely for an animated hit, the movie has made less than 45% of its worldwide grosses from international markets, but with over $450m in the coffers the $60m feature has become Warner Bros. most successful animated movie ever.
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