The Lego Movie is an incredible breakthrough for the animation industry; the mass hype surrounding the film is well deserved.  The eye-catching visuals and philosophical narrative immerse the audience in issues of morality and politics.  By attempting something so innovative, the filmmakers have created a movie the whole family can enjoy.

The plot centers on a Lego citizen named Emmet (voiced by Chris Pratt from Parks and Recreation) living in an urban city located within one dimension — among others — of the Lego universe.  Emmet maintains a standard working life as a construction worker in a city headed by an ambitious megalomaniac named Lord Business (voiced with the utmost wit by Will Ferrell). Going under the alias of “President Business,” he holds absolute influence over the city’s populace.  Everyone is defined by their qualities and values, but Emmet is considered an insignificant piece of the puzzle in the eyes of everyone he knows and the people with whom he works.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the other Lego realms learn that Lord Business plans literally to glue the universe together. A team of Legos from outside his dimension unexpectedly recruits Emmet because of a prophecy about a “Master Builder” (a.k.a. “The Special”) that could save them from Lord Business and prevent him from remaking the Lego universe in his image.

As a triangle of love and tribulation grows among Emmet and his new friends and allies, he assumes the full responsibility to help the desperate inhabitants subdue Lord Business and his grim intentions.  Emmet is aided in his quest by his first love interest and recruiter Wyldestyle (Elizabeth Banks) and a wizard named Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) who foretells Emmet’s role as Master Builder.  Also aiding Emmet is an entire resistance force of fighters including trademark characters from other films, most prominently a darkly sarcastic Batman (Will Arnett).  At the same time, Lord Business has dispatched a spin-head Lego character called Bad Cop (Liam Neeson) assigned to capture Emmet and ensure that the Lego resistance plan remains unfulfilled.

While some may find the jokes to be underwhelming, the pop culture references are amusing, and Lego nostalgia can make the viewer feel right at home. The film itself is an immensely rewarding experience on an emotionally resonant level, as well. The Lego Movie is one of the biggest surprises in cinema for sometime now, already, in my opinion, one of the best films of 2014 and perhaps one of the best animated films of the last decade.  With its amazing visuals and exploration of individualism, existentialism, and, most importantly, the creativity that blossoms from youth, I give this film an honest to goodness 10 out of 10.  By all means, go see this film.  It’s much more than just a toy advertisement. The Lego Movie is rated PG and was released on February 7th.