Build well!
Directed by: Kief Davidson, Daniel Junge
Written by: Daniel Junge, Davis Coombe
Cast: Jason Bateman, Jamie Berard
Swift shot: AFOLs (Adult Fans of Lego) and KFOLs (Kid Fans of Lego) will love this wonderful documentary about their favorite little Danish building bricks. If you don’t learn anything new watching this film, you are probably already deeply connected with the Lego community. I am a pretty big fan of Lego, and I still learned plenty!
Jason Bateman narrates this quirky little story all about how Lego began, how it has endured over the years, how it almost collapsed, and its dramatic rebirth in the modern era. There are celebrity interviews and some candid discussions with scientists divulging how Lego has influenced them to create.
Directors Davidson & Junge do a fine job putting together a film that enlightens, educates and entertains while revealing what Lego means to our little blue marble. From the beginning, we are shown that Lego has not only dominated our planet, but now the little bricks are even exploring space!
The film plays out as Director Junge says, ” . . . a collection of short stories strung together by unifying themes.” But that is simplifying their work. As this is the first officially sanctioned Lego documentary, they had the most access to Lego of any film maker in history. It certainly shows.
From the interviews with Lego project managers to master builders, to Lego artists and a broad swath of Fans of Lego (FOLs) from every age group, religious background and nation. With over 140 countries selling Lego brick and elements, you are taken on a brick by brick journey with a permanent smile on your face throughout the brief 92 minute run time.
Some of my favorite scenes revolve around how Lego bricks are being used to treat children with autism and how some of the larger studios in Hollywood incorporate Lego design concepts into their varied works. There are many featured artists and rather than divulge them all to you here, it is better that you learn for yourself why Lego is more than just a toy.
My rekindled love of Lego came about when they got the rights for Star Wars, and of course when I became a father. It’s no exaggeration to say that most of my expendable income has gone to Billund, Denmark! If you are a scientist, an artist, a parent, a writer, a thinker, an innovator, or just a dreamer . . . like me, this colorful, expansive brickumentary will fit into your life.
