The
LEGO Ninjago Movie ** ½ / *****
Written
by: Bob
Logan & Paul Fisher & William Wheeler & Tom Wheeler and Jared Stern
& John Whittington and Hilary Winston & Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman.
Starring:
Jackie
Chan (Master Wu / Mr. Liu), Dave Franco (Lloyd), Fred Armisen (Cole), Kumail
Nanjiani (Jay), Michael Peña (Kai), Abbi Jacobson (Nya), Zach Woods (Zane), Justin
Theroux (Garmadon), Olivia Munn (Koko).
It’s a rather troubling trend in
the three big-screen Lego movies so far, that each has been not as good as the
last movie. That was probably inescapable – everything seemed new – and awesome
– in the first film, simply entitled The Lego Movie, because the film had a
completely and totally difference animation style than anything else out there –
and because it played on adults inherent nostalgia for the toys they played
with as a child. Earlier this year, we saw The Lego Batman Movie – which was
almost as delightful as The Lego Movie – again at least in part because of
nostalgia, but also because the live action Batman had become so serious and
dour, that we needed something to come along and mock it. The problem with The
Lego Ninjago Movie – at least for someone like me, is that I have absolutely no
connection to the source material this time – I went into the movie having no
idea what a Ninjago was (and left, not knowing much else. Lacking that
connection, what we’re left with is an animated, action comedy that is amusing
in fits and starts, but doesn’t really add up to much. I’m sure that people who
watch the Ninjago TV show will enjoy it more than I did – and my superhero
obsessed six-year old daughter had a blast, despite never having seen the show –
but this is the first big screen Lego movie in which almost all of it will work
better for kids than adults – a few isolated jokes aside. It’s not bad per se –
just not as good as what came before.
The film takes place in Ninjago –
an island city of some kind, that is under constant threat of attack from Lord
Garmadon (voiced by Justin Theroux) – a four armed ninja, clad in head-to-toe
black cloths who wants to take over Ninjago, even if he’s not entirely sure
why. Garmadon’s son is Lloyd (voiced by Dave Franco) – and everyone hates him
because he is Garmadon’s son, even if he hasn’t seen his father since he was a
baby 16 years ago. Lloyd is secretly the Green Ninja – the leader of the ninja
crew that always defeats Garmadon when he attacks. They each have an element –
fire, water, ice, earth and lightning – although poor Lloyd doesn’t know what
he’s supposed to do with “green”. They are trained by Master Wu (Jackie Chan) –
Lord Garmadon’s brother, and a true ninja master. The bulk of the movie is
essentially a road trip – where Lloyd and his ninja pals are forced to play
nice with the evil Garmadon, on a quest to get the Ultimate Ultimate weapon –
the only thing that can defeat the Ultimate Weapon, which Lloyd deployed to
disastrous effect.
Walking into the movie knowing
nothing about Ninjago is entirely possible – the film establishes the
relationships between all the characters from the outset, and you’re never lost
in the plot – which is relatively simple and straight forward. Yet at the same
time, it does feel like something is missing – basically, a reason to care
about anyone or anything in the movie. Everything is so simple here, that it
never really feels like anything is at stake. The quips and one-liners can be
amusing – but they’re in isolation more than anything. The action sequences
are, for the most part, okay – although they are more chaotic than in The Lego Batman
Movie – and especially when they’re in the city, they can be hard to follow.
The animation is still good for the most part – yet, I couldn’t help but wonder
why this movie had to be done with Lego, instead of normal animation – there is
none of that idea, cleverly played with in the previous big-screen versions
about this all being a child’s game.
I keep saying big screen version rather
than simply movie, because Lego has been making direct-to-DVD versions of many
different stories over the years – again, as someone with a superhero obsessed
daughter, I’ve seen a few different version – mainly the Justice League,
although she particularly loved the first DC Superhero Girl Lego movie earlier
this summer. For the most part, those movies are passably clever, and enjoyable
for adults who know the characters, and my daughter who loves Wonder Woman (but
is too small for the Gal Gadot version) absolutely loved it. The Lego Ninjago
Movie feels more like one of those Lego movies, than the big screen versions –
cheapie films, made to order, and done quickly for fans of the characters.
There is nothing really wrong with that – but it does leave one wanting more.
Both The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie provided clever takes on their
subjects, nostalgia and more, making them appealing beyond their immediate
target audience. The Lego Ninjago Movie does not. Sadly, it’s still better than
most of the animated films I’ve seen so far this year – even as it doesn’t come
close to the features Lego has made before.
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