Year: 2017
Director: Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher, and Bob Logan
Starring: Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Jackie Chan, and Olivia Munn
Tagline: Find Your Inner Piece
Synopsis: Six teenage ninjas must defend Ninjago -- their hometown -- from the evil warlord Garmadon ... who awkwardly happens to be the dad of one of the ninjas.
Tagline: Find Your Inner Piece
Synopsis: Six teenage ninjas must defend Ninjago -- their hometown -- from the evil warlord Garmadon ... who awkwardly happens to be the dad of one of the ninjas.
Review
Meh.
After the unexpected delightfulness of The LEGO Movie and the manic fun of The LEGO Batman Movie, I had moderate hopes that The LEGO Ninjago Movie would follow in their square, bricky footsteps. I was disappointed in that hope.
I wouldn't necessarily say LEGO Ninjago is a bad movie. It isn't that it is poorly made, has gaping plot holes, or is boring. It's just meh. The story and message are predictable. The characters are mostly generic. Many of the jokes fall flat. And the music is an odd assortment of repurposed songs. LEGO Ninjago lacks the originality and creativity of its predecessors.
It also lacks their heart. For a movie that talks a lot about feelings, the film feels ultimately devoid of any true emotions. The characters expressed emotions, but they never earned or elicited any out of me.
There were a few moments that made me chuckle though. The brief appearance of a fuchsia ninja was my favorite. I also appreciated the scene that utilized the Wilhelm scream five or six times in a row.
If you really need a movie to take the kids to, you could do worse than the LEGO Ninjago movie. It's harmless enough. And you might get a few laughs out of it. Just don't expect adventures like those of Emmett Brickowski or LEGO Batman.
After the unexpected delightfulness of The LEGO Movie and the manic fun of The LEGO Batman Movie, I had moderate hopes that The LEGO Ninjago Movie would follow in their square, bricky footsteps. I was disappointed in that hope.
I wouldn't necessarily say LEGO Ninjago is a bad movie. It isn't that it is poorly made, has gaping plot holes, or is boring. It's just meh. The story and message are predictable. The characters are mostly generic. Many of the jokes fall flat. And the music is an odd assortment of repurposed songs. LEGO Ninjago lacks the originality and creativity of its predecessors.
It also lacks their heart. For a movie that talks a lot about feelings, the film feels ultimately devoid of any true emotions. The characters expressed emotions, but they never earned or elicited any out of me.
There were a few moments that made me chuckle though. The brief appearance of a fuchsia ninja was my favorite. I also appreciated the scene that utilized the Wilhelm scream five or six times in a row.
If you really need a movie to take the kids to, you could do worse than the LEGO Ninjago movie. It's harmless enough. And you might get a few laughs out of it. Just don't expect adventures like those of Emmett Brickowski or LEGO Batman.
Quotable Quotes
- "Can I be the element of surprise?" "No. That is the Fuchsia Ninja." "Surprise!" -- Lloyd, Master Wu, and the Fuchsia Ninja
- "Right now yours are the wrong hands." -- Master Wu
- "Are you crossing your fingers behind your back?" "No. I literally can't do that." -- Lloyd and Garmadon (who has claw hands like every other LEGO)
- "You have unleashed Meowra." -- Master Wu
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