Film Review: Lego Ninjago Movie

In the latest Lego instalment, Dave Franco charmingly voices young Master Builder Lloyd, who is ostracised by nearly everyone in Ninjago, because his estranged father, the evil Garmadon (Justin Theroux, hilariously arrogant), attacks their city on a near-daily basis. Little do Lloyd’s naysayers know that he’s part of a ninja team hellbent on defeating Garmadon.

To do so, their mentor Master Wu (Jackie Chan) must teach them how to harness their inner powers. Much of the film feels familiar. The dynamic between the narcissistic, city-destroying Garmadon and wannabe superhero Lloyd echoes the father-son plot from the original Lego Movie, as well as the Batman/Joker showdown from The Lego Batman Movie.

The visuals are predictably great, with the pan-Asian metropolis of Ninjago filled with stunning wasen boats, neon cityscapes, and Chinese dragon jets. Garmadon’s attacks include sly pokes at superhero movie-tropes like dangling school buses. But the jokes don’t fly as fast as previous offerings, and much of the incredible comic vocal talent is wasted. Kumail Nanjiani’s scaredy cat Lightning Ninja and Zach Woods’ straight-talking robot Ice Ninja bring some laughs, but Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson and Michael Pena’s comic chops have been abandoned on the editing floor.

Thankfully, Jackie Chan’s natural brand of winking, playful wisdom does shine through as he espouses team-work over technology. It’s a nice message for parents to share with iPhone-glued kids, as is Lloyd’s realisation that his mother (Olivia Munn) is all the more badass for her nurturing nature.

Unfortunately, the directing team have merely re-arranged pieces of other Lego films. The result is still fun and colourful, but lacking some Master Builder magic.

3.5/5