Given the track record of movies based on toy lines, it was absolutely justified to be rather skeptical about the making of a Lego movie. The console games the company produced over the years have been fun though, and everyone deserves a chance, right?

Well, as it turns out the Lego Movie is much closer to the Toy Story trilogy than to G.I. Joe or Battleship, thank heavens. It's incredibly fast, it excels at being silly and extremely detailed. Of course there is plenty of humor, some of which may be over the youngest viewers heads. There is just so much to see and explore that you will definitely need more than one viewing to get it all, that's how overwhelming things are, and not just in the fun action sequences. The voice acting is great, especially the unbelievably silly crap they have Morgan Freeman say is already worth the price of admission.

The final plot twist - yes there is such a thing in an animated movie - is so logical and simple yet stunningly surprising and also shows that the movie has a huge beating heart under its brick skin. It's a love declaration to the toy line, yes, but even more so to the power of imagination, the joy of playing and the innocence of escapism.

Reading too much into a kids movie? Most certainly not. Everyone involved knew exactly what they were doing and delivered at the top of their game.
A movie for the young ones and those still young at heart.

8 out of 10 Magic Wands made of chewed on lollipop sticks