Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hilarious toy tale plugs product but is nonstop fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Lego Movie
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 107 parent reviews
Parents say the film features a mix of humor and engaging animation, making it enjoyable for older kids and adults, although many feel it contains excessive violence and dark themes that may not be suitable for younger audiences. While some viewers appreciate its clever storytelling and positive messages, others express concern regarding its appropriateness for children, citing its fast pace and adult humor that can be difficult for younger viewers to grasp.
- violence concerns
- humor appeal
- age appropriateness
- clever storytelling
- mixed reactions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 266 kid reviews
What's the Story?
THE LEGO MOVIE opens with the legendary battle between evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell) and noble Master Builder Lord Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman). Lord Business plans to dominate the entire Lego universe with a deadly weapon called the Kragle, but Vitruvius has a vision that a yellow-faced someone, the Special, will defeat the villainous Lord Business with the missing "piece of resistance." Years later, completely ordinary construction worker Emmet (Chris Pratt) spies a suspicious figure (Wyldstyle, voiced by Elizabeth Banks) on the construction site and, while following her, ends up finding the legendary red piece of resistance. Wyldstyle believes Emmet to be the Special and takes him to Vitruvius, but they soon realize he's more of a nice-guy rule follower than a visionary Master Builder. As Business and his cronies, led by a ruthless Bad Cop (Liam Neeson), attempt to steal the piece of resistance, Emmet must discover whether he has what it takes to be the Special and save Lego kind.
Is It Any Good?
Movies based on toys aren't ever this good, and it's a testament to the veteran animation filmmakers that this one is so smart, humorous, and visually fun to watch. The perfect cast of voice actors completely embodies their Lego counterparts: Pratt's adorable earnestness is legendary to any Parks and Recreation fan; Banks is a go-to girl-power voice; Arnett sounds exactly like Michael Keaton's Batman; and Freeman, Neeson, and Ferrell are master voice actors. But The Lego Movie is not just your typical animated adventure; there are real messages and sophisticated criticisms of popular culture and consumerism (rather subversive -- or very, very smart -- for a movie tied to a multi-billion-dollar toy company).
Like Luke Skywalker or Harry Potter or Neo, Emmet embarks on the archetypal hero's journey -– complete with his own mystical guide (Vitruvius), intelligent and fierce love interest (Wyldstyle), and larger than life nemesis (Business). Along the way, Emmet bumps into a cadre of hilariously depicted minifigures, from superheroes to historical legends, like Shakespeare and Lincoln. The story contains various brilliant cameos, laugh-aloud one liners, and a live-action interlude that is surprisingly touching. Families with kids of all ages will love this reminder of the joy of playing and laughing together.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about movies based on toys. How does The Lego Movie compare to the others, like Barbie or Transformers films? Does it make you want to get the Lego characters portrayed in the movie?
The movie pokes fun at aspects of popular culture, like dumbed-down TV comedies, catchy pop songs, and overpriced coffee. What do you think the filmmakers are trying to say?
How can we all apply Vitruvius' lesson that everyone is special if we believe in our own talents and abilities?
How do the characters in The Lego Movie demonstrate teamwork? Why is this an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 7, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : June 17, 2014
- Cast : Chris Pratt , Elizabeth Banks , Will Arnett
- Directors : Christopher Miller , Phil Lord
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , Cuban Movie Director(s) , Multiracial Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild action and rude humor
- Last updated : January 16, 2026
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