THE LEGO MOVIE
Saving the world one Legoman at a time.
Should You Watch It?
Yes. The LEGO Movie is an exceptionally entertaining comedy with top-notch animation, clever characters, and a story that keeps its energy. Children will enjoy the colorful action, while adults can appreciate the humor and character work.
The movie also emphasizes sacrifice, freedom, creativity, and a father-son relationship. Its Christian allegory is strong, though some ideas near the end weaken the comparison. The main drawback is some scatological humor and a political message that becomes confusing because the villain called President Business opposes free-market business.
If your family can handle that humor and discuss the movie’s ideas, this is worth watching together.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESEmmet is an ordinary man who follows every rule in a city controlled by the ironically named President Business. Then Emmet discovers a powerful object and learns that he may be “the special one” destined to fulfill a prophecy of peace.
With Wyldstyle, a master builder who creates without instructions, Emmet travels through worlds he never knew existed. They have three days to stop President Business from destroying the world.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an exceptionally well-made family comedy. The animation is top notch, the characters are clever, and the story and plot keep audiences entertained.
The humor works for both children and adults, with clever elements that give grown-ups reasons to enjoy the movie alongside younger viewers. The film’s strongest creative achievement is how effectively it turns LEGO building into an imaginative animated world.
The Worldview
The movie presents a strong Christian, moral worldview through an almost allegorical story. An ordinary man is connected to a prophecy about saving the world, sacrificing himself, and coming back to life. The film also gives a character an epiphany involving “the man upstairs,” who gives him purpose.
The movie emphasizes sacrifice, freedom to create, and a father and son building a relationship. Its political message opposes a deceitful dictator who controls media, products, thought, creativity, and laws. However, the villain’s name, President Business, creates confusion because he tyrannically opposes a free market for business. Some elements at the end also weaken the Christian allusion by suggesting that the prophecy was made up.
The film’s central idea is that sacrificial love can bring life and freedom. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Christian, moral, almost allegorical worldview, with allusions to Jesus, as a prophecy is being fulfilled when a man comes in ordinary form to save the world and must sacrifice himself and comes back to life, though some things at the end of the movie skews this a little to say the prophecy was made up, plus character has an epiphany of “the man upstairs” who gives him purpose, moral message of father and son building a relationship, and a strong capitalist, libertarian message of freedom to build and not be under the law of a deceitful communist, fascist dictator who wants to control all the media, products, thought, and laws; no foul language but some scatological humor; action animated violence of falling through holes and breaking through walls, buildings, etc., but nothing too graphic for children; no sexual content or kissing though one character is seen as a bit of a “player”; no nudity though Lego men have their shirt and pants off, which of course is animated so nothing is revealing; old western bar scene; no smoking or drug use though one character is a bit of a hippie and the epiphany scenes seem a bit druggy; and, bad guy lies and has an ironic name that is confusing, but no other objectionable content.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Emmet begins as someone who only follows instructions. What helps him discover courage, creativity, and purpose?
2 Timothy 1:7 · Ephesians 2:10The movie presents sacrifice as part of saving others. How does Jesus’ sacrifice give that idea its fullest meaning?
John 15:13 · Mark 10:45President Business wants to control creativity and thought. Why does God value the gifts and imagination He gives people?
Romans 12:6 · 1 Peter 4:10The story includes a father and son building a relationship. What makes a relationship between parents and children strong and patient?
Ephesians 6:4 · Colossians 3:21The Final Word
The LEGO Movie is hilarious, imaginative, and unusually rich in moral and Christian themes. Some scatological humor and a confusing political message call for discernment, but families of all ages can find plenty to enjoy and discuss. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP.
