--- title: "The Lego Movie: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie" critics_score: 82 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Lego Movie (2014): what the critics said Critics' score 82 from 14 reviews: 13 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics are delighted, and more surprised than they expected to be: a film built to sell plastic bricks turns out, in their view, to be fast, funny and warmer than it has any right to be. Praise clusters on Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s script and direction, on the tactile, brick-by-brick animation that several reviewers compare to stop-motion, and on the voice cast, with Batman singled out more than once. Many also enjoy the satire of consumer culture and conformity, and a good number are caught off guard by an ending they find moving and decline to describe. The spread is narrow; thirteen of fourteen reviews are positive, most at four stars or thereabouts. Reservations are small: a middle section some find chaotic, pacing that occasionally flags, and a debt to The Matrix that Slant Magazine notes without much complaint. The lone dissenter is The Wrap, which enjoys the pop-culture mashups but thinks the film stops dead to spell out its moral about creativity, and finds the spoon-feeding insulting. ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2014. The critic praises the film as a clever, irreverent homage to Lego that skewers consumer culture while delivering nonstop laughs and ingenuity through its animation and structure. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-the-lego-movie-1201082797/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2014. The critic hails the film as a rare animated free-for-all mixing shameless fun with razor-sharp wit and pure joy while tackling deeper issues. It singles out the third-act developments that shift into poignant questions about creation and the nature of a benevolent versus vengeful creator. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/02/movie-review-the-lego-movie.html) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2012. Lord and Miller deliver a weird, creative, ambitious film that captures Lego's surreal nature with visual humor and a moving ending, despite some chaos in the middle. It's enthusiastic and exciting, sure to delight Lego fans. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/lego-movie-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2014. The review celebrates the film's subversive humor, hyper-kinetic energy, and inventive design that celebrates creativity over conformity, highlighting the voice cast and balance of kid-friendly fun with adult appeal. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-lego-movie-20140207-story.html) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 March 2014. The critic finds the film a clever, ironic celebration of Lego that pokes fun at positivity and product placement but succeeds with its inventive story and characters, especially Batman. The climax provides a genuine visual and thematic jolt that affirms ordinary people are special. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-lego-movie-film-review-every-little-bit-clicks-into-place-9127560.html) ## Little White Lies — Chris Blohm Rating 2/4/4. 9 February 2014. The film is a raucous and highly caffeinated treat that turns out to be a whimsical and hilarious piece of animated nostalgia rather than a shameless toy tie-in. The critic singles out the inventive, tactile brick-based visual tomfoolery and set-pieces for praise. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-lego-movie) ## Radio Times — Jamie Healy Rating 4/5. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have created a film every bit as imaginative, colourful and cleverly constructed as their plastic inspiration. The critic singles out the positively inspiring message about freedom of expression and the block-busting action for praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-br1i8z/the-lego-movie/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2014. The film is a smoothly blended concoction of spry sensory pleasures and considerable heart, a terrific family-friendly adventure with sincere verve and pop. The critic singles out the deep reservoir of genuine pan-generation feeling and sly digs at consumer culture for praise. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-lego-movie/5066092.article) ## Slant Magazine — R. Kurt Osenlund Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 February 2014. The critic notes the film's heavy debt to The Matrix but finds appreciation in its self-reflexive world-building and visual assembly of structures. It singles out the twist that instills heart and the message promoting common specialness over exceptionalism. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-lego-movie/) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 4/5. 3 February 2014. The result is bold, berserk and strangely beautiful, sheer joy with a witty script, surprisingly pointed satire and tactile, imaginative animation. The critic singles out the deeply sentimental but oddly touching climax for note, despite occasional pacing issues. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-lego-movie) ## The Guardian 13 February 2014. The film is an unexpected joy and a work of unbridled imagination that delights viewers of all ages. It respects Lego logic in its changeable universe while delivering satirical gags and a tactile, DIY charm reminiscent of Aardman animations. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/feb/13/the-lego-movie-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff 2 February 2014. The critic calls the film a full-throttle, giddily inventive all-ages joyride that boosts the bar for 3D computer-animated movies. Praise centers on its non-stop irreverence, dazzling CGI, and pitch-perfect voice cast. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/lego-movie-film-review-676345/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A. 6 February 2014. The critic praises the film as a brilliant, imaginative work that transcends its toy-ad origins through wit, humor, and heart, encouraging creativity. They single out the clever storytelling twists and the stop-motion style animation that pays tribute to LEGO's roots while delivering constant laughs and emotional resonance. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-lego-movie-review/) ## /Film — Angie Han Rating 9.0/10. 7 February 2014. The film delivers a fresh, joke-packed take on the hero's journey that pokes fun at clichés while moving at a brisk pace. Lord and Miller show sincere affection for the Lego experience, turning what could have been a cynical ad into a love letter that appeals to kids and adults alike. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/530235/the-lego-movie-review-phil-lord-and-chris-miller-build-another-awesome-adventure/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2014. The critic finds it wittier and smarter than expected, fast and funny enough for all ages while celebrating creativity and imagination. They single out the clever third-act reveal that recontextualises the story and delivers a moving emotional hit. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a548583/the-lego-movie-review-a-wildly-inventive-rollercoaster-with-bricks/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2014. The film offers fun pop-culture mashups and creative playfulness but grinds to a halt to deliver a heavy-handed moral about conformity and creativity. This spoon-feeding approach insults viewers and sucks the fun out of an otherwise fast-moving animated comedy-adventure. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/lego-movie-review-lots-funny-pieces-dont-click-place/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 4 out of 5. 7 February 2014. The critic calls it a fast, frenetic and bonkers comedy packed with nerdy references and surprises that works surprisingly well despite corporate involvement. They single out the daring and brilliant ending for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-lego-movie-review-2/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie.md