Lego Spy

Lego Spy is a 2018 American computer-animated comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Wonder Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed, co-produced, co-written, and edited by James Cameron, the film is based on the Lego toy line, and stars the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Sterling Jerins, Antonio Banderas, Amy Adams, Danny Glover, John Rhys-Davies, Laurence Fishburne, and Albert Brooks.

Lego Spy
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	James Cameron
Produced by	James Cameron Gary Marsh Gary Krisel
Written by	James Cameron Alicia Kirk Gary Marsh Gary Krisel Bob Iger Derek Stephen Prince
Based on	Lego Construction Toys
Starring	Samuel L. Jackson Sterling Jerins Antonio Banderas Amy Adams Danny Glover John Rhys-Davies Laurence Fishburne Albert Brooks
Music by	Tom Holkenborg
Cinematography	Stephen Sandoval Jeff Jur
Edited by	James Cameron Mark Solomon
Production company	Walt Disney Pictures Walt Disney Wonder Studios Lightstorm Entertainment Lego System A/S
Distributed by	Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date	March 1, 2018
Running time	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$110 million
Box office	$304 million

Lego Spy was released theatrically in the United States on March 1, 2018. The film has grossed $304 million worldwide and received critical acclaim for its visuals, voice acting, humor, animation, and Tom Holkenborg's musical score. The film was also nominated for three Golden Globe Awards: Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

Plot

Warner A. Helms is a master spy who always saves the city of BrickIris from his arch-enemy, Dr. Waste. One day, the president surrenders himself to Waste, but Warner foils his plan as always. Waste forces him to either save Brickiris or catch him. Warner stubbornly tells Waste that he means nothing to him and they are not related, and defuses the bomb in seconds.

In Helms Island, Warner's father Ronald tries to convince him to try something new rather than spend the rest of his life working alone. Reluctantly, Warner agrees to come with Ronald to Commissioner Christopher Clark's retirement gala, where Clark retires and passes his role to his daughter, Jodie Clark, who Warner is smitten by. Waste starts to crash the gala, but surrenders, and the citizens tell Warner that with no more crime, they don't need a crime fighter anymore, crushing his heart.

Warner decides to send Waste to the Wilderness Zone to adapt to the change, but Jodie forbids this. Ronald tells him to take responsibility for his life by raising Sylvia I. June, a little girl whom Warner accidentally adopted at the gala. Warner and Sylvia secretly steal the Wilderness Zone Projector and take it to the Brickiris Police Department to send Waste to the Wilderness Zone. Discovering this, Jodie accuses them of breaking her rule and has her men lock up the Wilderness Zone Projector.

In the Wilderness Zone, Waste befriends an evil Scottish-accented robot ninja named Ninja Swingson, who helps him escape. Jodie realizes this and frees Warner and Sylvia with encouragement from Ronald. Warner, Sylvia, Jodie, and Ronald build a battleship to find Waste. Swingson intercepts them and retrieves the Wilderness Zone, sinking the battleship in the process, but Warner saves his family by building a hang-glider. Upon reaching Helms Island, Warner feels concerned for his family and chooses to send them to safety rather than losing them like he lost his late mother. Waste criticizes Warner for being too incapable of change and sends him to the Wilderness Zone.

There, Warner witnesses the harm his selfishness has caused for everyone in Brickiris and slowly accepts his greatest fear. He is released from the Wilderness Zone and reconciles with his family. They send Swingson back to the Wilderness Zone, but are too late to defuse the bomb, which cracks Brickiris in half. Warner convinces Waste to help by saying if Brickiris falls he will never get to fight Waste again. Warner, Waste, Sylvia, Jodie, Warner, and the citizens of Brickiris chain-link themselves together and pull the plates back together, saving Brickiris. Warner and his family temporarily let Waste get away, knowing that whenever he returns, he is no match for the Warner family. The film ends with Warner spending a new life with his family.

Cast

• Samuel L. Jackson as Warner A. Helms, the master spy and hero of Brickiris. He is the film's protagonist.
• Sterling Jerins as Sylvia I. June, an orphaned little girl who Warner accidentally adopts. She is the film's deuteragonist.
• Antonio Banderas as Dr. Waste, Warner's arch-enemy. He is the film's antagonist.
• Amy Adams as Jodie Clark, Christopher's daughter and Brickiris' new police commissioner. She is the film's tritagonist.
• Danny Glover as Christopher Clark, the former police commissioner of Brickiris.
• John Rhys-Davies as Ninja Swingson, a robotic ninja and a prisoner of the Wilderness Zone. He is the film's secondary antagonist.
• Laurence Fishburne as Mad McDowell, the president of Brickiris.
• Albert Brooks as Ronald Helms, Warner's father. He is the film's tetartagonist.
• Paul Dooley as Brickiris Police Chief
• Tara Strong as Wilderness Zone Keeper
• Kevin Michael Richardson and Victor Brandt as Airplane pilots
• Bobby Moynihan and Andy Dick as Police officers
• Paige Hurd as Ballerina
• Sigourney Weaver as Computer
• Gary Marsh, Gary Krisel, Bob Iger, and Derek Stephen Prince as Waste's minions

Box office

Lego Spy opened on March 1, 2018, and was projected to gross $80-90 million in its opening weekend. It grossed $120 million in the United States and Canada, and $184 million in other territories. It ended its theatrical run on June 1, 2018, after playing in theaters for three months. The worldwide total was $304 million. Produced on a budget of $110 million, it was successful at the box office.

Critical response

Lego Spy holds a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 155 reviews. The consensus reads, "Better than Warner Animation Group's Lego Movies, Lego Spy is a perfect addition to the Walt Disney Wonder Studios catalog that teaches younger viewers important lessons about family and life". On Metacritic, the film has a score of 95 out of 100 based on 31 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "A+" on a A+ to F scale.

Anthony Lane of New Yorker gave the film five stars, saying, "Because of the release of the most derivative Walt Disney Wonder Studios movie, Disney In The House: Christmas, Lego Spy is a return-to-form for the studio". Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun Times gave the film "Two Thumbs Up". Antonio Quirke of London Evening Standard praised its "great story". Michael O' Sullivan of The Washington Post was positive about the film, praising the quality of animation, music, dramatic tone, visual style, and other aspects. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone said the film "made him cry" and commended the vocal performance of Samuel L. Jackson as Warner A. Helms.