"The LEGO NINJAGO Movie", the second spin-off from 2014's massively successful "The LEGO Movie", delivers plenty of frenetic fun for the kids as well as a surprising amount of wit and charm for parents in the audience.
Fueled by dazzling animation and self-aware silliness, just as its predecessors were, "NINJAGO" manages to feel a little less burdened and overwrought than the earlier films did, resulting in a light, breezy viewing experience with more than its share of laugh-out-loud moments.
What's it about?
The film’s story within the LEGO universe focuses on Lloyd (voiced by Dave Franco), whose life as a teen living in Ninjago City is a little different than most.
Lloyd, it turns out, has a secret identity. He and his high school friends – Kai (Michael Peña), Cole (Fred Armisen, Jay (Kumail Nanjiani), Nya (Abbi Jacobson) and Zane (Zach Woods) – are a team of modern ninjas, trained to defend Ninjago from the ever-present threat of conquest by Lord Garmadon (Justin Theroux), acknowledged by all as “The Worst Guy Ever.”
No one except Lloyd’s friends and his sage-like teacher, Master Wu (Jackie Chan) knows of his secret life as a hero, not even his mother, Koko (Olivia Munn). But the whole city knows that Lloyd is, in fact, Lord Garmadon’s son, which makes him immensely unpopular and disliked.
When his rash actions to defeat Lord Garmadon once and for all open up Ninjago to an even greater danger, Lloyd loses the confidence and trust of his friends. Determined to make things right, he leads them on a journey to obtain a secret weapon buried in his family’s past.
Can the ninjas defeat Lord Garmadon and save the day? Will Ninjago finally see Lloyd for the hero he is? Will Lord Garmadon finally pronounce his son’s name correctly?
(Hint: It’s a kids’ movie. Be prepared to cheer.)
Best of the three
Arguably, “The LEGO NINJAGO Movie” is the most cohesive and streamlined viewing experience of the three LEGO films so far.
It’s storytelling is more focused and less overwrought than the original, and while it lacks the wealth of in-jokes that made “The LEGO Batman Movie” such a hoot for Caped Crusader fans, it’s also not bogged down by the effort to fit into its 101 minutes nods to decades of prior history.
The film does have, like the other films before it, pacing issues. In between all the wild scenes involving LEGO bricks flying everywhere assembled into fantastic contraptions, this time heavily inspired by classic “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers”, the movie’s admittedly tongue-in-cheek moments of emotional dialogue do tend to slow things down more than they should.
But overall, the cheekiness of the film’s banter and running jokes during more lively plot beats, when coupled with all that spectacular LEGO-brick built animation, makes for great fun. The film’s positives far outweigh its negatives.
Worth seeing?
If you have children of a certain age and you’ve stepped on more than your share of LEGO bricks left carelessly on play room floors, then seeing “The LEGO NINJAGO Movie” is almost a foregone conclusion.
Rest assured, parents, you’ll have fun, too. Enjoy the running gags, enjoy the surprises, and enjoy the charm of seeing and hearing the legendary Jackie Chan featured prominently throughout the film’s animated and live action sequences. Jackie may be getting on in years, but his face is as expressive as ever, and he’s still got a few physical moves (and funny outtakes) left in him.
Oh, and be prepared to add some LEGO NINJAGO assortments to your children’s collections, if they don’t have them already.
The LEGO NINJAGO Movie
Starring the voices of Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson, Olivia Munn, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Peña, Zach Woods, and Jackie Chan. Directed by Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher and Bob Logan.
Running time: 101 minutes
Rated PG for some mild action and rude humor.