The LEGO Ninjago Movie
Six high school kids struggle with their alma mater during the day, but at night kick major butt as ninja warriors.
The phenomenal success of the original LEGO Movie is responsible for this third, lazy outing following The LEGO Batman Movie, only released here last February. The action takes place in Ninjago city where young Master Builder Lloyd – aka the Green Ninja – has to join forces with a group of secret ninja warriors in order to defeat the evil warlord Garmaddon, who happens to be Lloyd’s dad. Unlike Star Wars, where Darth Vader is revealed in an unexpected twist to be Luke Skywalker’s father, here this information is laid down from the very beginning, straight after the live action sequence with Jackie Chan narrating the story to a young boy who visits his martial arts shop.
The original film was a genuine surprise hit that came out of nowhere. The effects are now more sophisticated, while the brief presence of Jackie Chan does add gravitas to the thin proceedings. In this kind of film there are usually fun elements at the start, but very soon the jokes run out of steam and the fact that three directors and six writers are credited proves the point with a muddled result.
GEORGE SAVVIDES
Voices of Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson, Olivia Munn, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Peña, Zach Woods, Jackie Chan, Randall Park.
Dir Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher and Bob Logan, Pro Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Chris McKay, Maryann Garger and Roy Lee, Screenplay Bob Logan, Paul Fisher, William Wheeler, Tom Wheeler, Jared Stern and John Whittington, from a story by Hilary Winston, Bob Logan, Paul Fisher, William Wheeler, Tom Wheeler, Dan Hageman and and Kevin Hageman, Pro Des Kim Taylor and Annie Beauchamp, Ed David Burrows, Garret Elkins, Ryan Folsey, Julie Rogers and John Venzon, Music Mark Mothersbaugh.
Warner Animation Group/Lin Pictures/Vertigo Entertainment/Animal Logic/Lord Miller Productions/Lego System A/S-Warner Bros.
101 mins. USA/Denmark. 2017. Rel: 13 October 2017. Cert. U.