Complete A-Z list


Lego Ninjago Movie, The

7/10

Stars: Jackie Chan. Voices: Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Fred Armisen, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Pena, Abbi Jacobson, Zach Woods, Olivia Munn

Director: Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher, Bob Logan

A legion of smartly-animated plastic toys spring into mad Martial Arts action in the third big-screen escapade of the ever-popular (well, with Hollywood serially pugging them, what do you expect?) Lego movies, perfectly proving what all sequel-loving youngsters know so well - that familiar breeds content.

Their latest loony adventure finds Lloyd aka Green Ninja and his legion of secret warrior plays springing into action (U certificate action, of course) when futuristic Ninjago City is attacked by wicked warlord Garmandon whose neglected son is Lloyd, thus providing the story with a Freudian aspect, especially for those movie watchers desperate to demonstrate their ability to detect a subtext, whether or not one is actually intended.

The animation is suitably larger-than-life and there is plenty of action, put across by a well-chosen vocal cast and pacy direction by Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher and Bob Logan who, thanks to half-a-dozen screenwriters (Logan, Fisher, William Wheeler, Tom Wheeler, Jared Stern, John Whittington) along with appropriately gaudy sanitation (and an impressively real giant cat stalking the streets of the invaded city) the result is good lively entertainment for youngsters that shouldn’t be too painful for accompanying adults.

And, even better, an amiable and splendidly self-animated Jackie Chan turns up in the flesh, adds a throughly enjoyable live-action top and tail to the lively tall story.

To quote one of the Ninjas - 'You just have to look at it from a different point of view' and then you'll know exactly what to expect.

Alan Frank

USA/Denmark 2017. UK Distributor: Warner Brothers. Colour.
101 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: U.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 15 Oct 2017