Another Block in the Bucket

The Lego Ninjago Movie, the newest installation in the Lego movie franchise has joined the growing list of Lego Movies that will be swiping into every parents living room on repeat for the next 6 months.  Like pervious Lego Movies it follows the recycled formula of kid/adult friendly humour, serious conflict mixed with lots comic relief that’s sometimes over played, and ending it with that long awaited heartwarming revaluation that empowers the protagonist to save the day and kick butt.

For those worried that they can’t enjoy the Lego Ninjago Movie or won’t know what’s going on because they haven’t seen any of the 74 episodes spanning 7 seasons  or cracked open and read any of the 11 graphic novels of the original Ninjago Masters of Spinjitzu franchise – spoiler alter- you won’t have to.  Even people who think I’ve just misspelt jiu jitsu can follow along as the Lego Ninjago Movie summarizes and highlights the main points about Ninjago, it’s characters, and their conflict in the first 10 minutes in its never-take-anything-too-serious style.

The movie is good and funny, but as an adult you may find the jokes repetitive, and that bits are just added in for there own sake and not advancing the plot. But to a kid, it never gets old.

Those that are familiar with the Ninjago original cannon, good news, you’re not left out.  Although it’s a stand alone movie and has no bearing on the original series the Lego Ninjago Movie does offer something for the fans.

The movie takes one of the more tension filled arches in the series, where a son has to become a Ninja hero to save the world from his evil war lord father (if this sounds like a Dr. Phil episode – trust me when I say this wasn’t wrapped up in a half hour).  In it’s parody, the Lego Ninjago Movie takes this arch and transforms the tension and conflict into an ongoing joke.  Some people like this, but many fans will find it offensive to the original series they love.            

In short, if your going to watch the Lego Ninjago Movie take a block from the Lego Movie franchise: don’t-take-it- too-seriously and just enjoy the ride.