We're back to the bricks with The Lego Ninjago Movie. How does it stack up?
Spoilers Ahead...
Going in, I knew next to absolutely nothing about Lego's toyline of the same name. Just a few details: It's ninjas (obviously), monsters, robots, action, this, that. Not that I cared, because above all I'm expecting a fun movie that doesn't require you to be a Ninjago scholar beforehand. You're mostly going for the action and father-son story, and I got just that.
I can see why there's a divide. The Lego Ninjago Movie is certainly not heady and textured like The Lego Movie, its messages and ideas are pretty standard and are things you've seen before in family-friendly movies. The Lego Ninjago Movie is certainly not a thoughtful deconstruction like The Lego Batman Movie was. It's not a commentary on martial arts films or action flicks, it just is one. A straightforward martial arts-tinged action movie with a 6-12 year old boy audience in mind. At times, the film may seem a little juvenile with its humor and its energetic "dude! awesome!" attitude that's been around since the 90s.
Unabashedly so, too.
But I'm not going to lie... I had a lot of fun.
Whoever the hell this movie may be for, I dug it. That said, it isn't a great film by any stretch, it is clunky in areas, chiefly in the first third. Directed by three and written by six (!), sometimes the film's dialogue and humor misses the hole, sometimes the script brings some real laughs and delights. The cleverness of the previous Lego films is indeed on display, and honestly... When your whole movie revolves around Lego minifigures trying to save their city from a live-action cat that's essentially a kaiju, how can one not get a kick out of this? It's silly, it's giddy, it doesn't take itself seriously at all. Yet there's a surprising amount of heart in the main storyline.
The film finds its footing once Lloyd Garmadon and his ninja force friends embark on a journey into a forbidden jungle to find the "ultimate ultimate weapon" that will save Ninjago City from Meowthra. The relationship between him and his evil, troubled father is pretty well-done for the most part, perhaps more than it - as they often say - needed to be.
The middle portion is where the film is at its most sincere, not trying to please a particular target audience - whether it's the young boy set that Ninjago was geared towards or adults who absolutely need "adult" jokes in order to enjoy a candy-coated animated romp. Its attempts to emulating Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's inimitable Lego Movie script often fell flat, the better jokes and bits of writing just come naturally. When it's being that straightforward, fun, irreverent adventure, it succeeds with flying colors. I found myself chuckling a lot throughout this stretch of the movie. I have to give them props for such effort, this could've been just a run-of-the-mill Ninjago adaptation that belonged on the DVD rack, but no... It does try to be a little something more, and actually does quite a fine job at it.
The final act, which is enjoyable and has the feely stuffs, is only undone by a super-quick resolution of the other ninjas' dilemmas. The live-action framing story of a boy in a relic shop is amusing, but adds little to the story. You could probably snip it all out and it won't affect the movie, but at least it doesn't intrude on things. Ever. It's only the beginning, and the end of the picture. Not like The Lone Ranger (an example off the top of my head), where it's often ramming its way into the room. Plus, the master himself is the extension of the store owner, who of course is played by Jackie Chan. (Chan and animation is seemingly one long-lasting combo: This, Kung Fu Panda, Jackie Chan... Adventures?)
Again, not everyone's going to like it, and I can see why. Not heavy on substance, not a laugh-o-minute crowd pleaser, The Lego Ninjago Movie is fine the way it is. A little sharpening on the first act's pace and writing, it's a near-solid film. This film could've come out in 2002 and it wouldn't have felt out-of-place. Likely not to have the shelf life of its two wonderful predecessors, Lego Ninjago Movie is like a candy bar. A nice little treat in between the more, erm, gourmet dishes? What's wrong with some sweets every once in a blue moon? Well-made sweets, that is.
In all, a blast, full of pretty visuals and colors, entertaining. I had a good time, and I can't say that about too many animated comedy movies that have come about in the past few years.