'The Lego Movie' is one of the best animated films of recent years

Rating: 10/10 (14 May 2014)

What could've been pandering corporate sell-out schlock is instead a smart, creative and beautifully animated satire of Hollywood blockbuster clichés and a surprisingly intelligent analysis of what makes Lego so fun. Like director/screenwriter duo Chris Miller and Phil Lord's previous outings, 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' and '21 Jump Street', this film is loaded to the brim with fun and clever gags - at least one per minute.
The film also features some sharp voice work (Chris Pratt in particular has a very naturally comedic voice), an addictive and omnipresent indie pop song serving a higher purpose than you'd think, and a Matrix-like conclusion that puts the film on a completely different level of intelligence.
I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Lego Movie', and it is truly a film that parents and children can enjoy for different reasons, even going outside of relying on simple, cheap nostalgia for the former group. This was an incredibly well-crafted and entertaining animated film, and I hope to see it at the Oscars this year.