While Chris Pratt is known for live-action roles such as Star-Lord inGuardians of the Galaxy, Owen Grady in theJurassic Worldfilms, and Andy Dwyer inParks and Recreation, he’s also portrayed multiple popular characters in animated films, including inThe Lego Movie.In recent years, he has voice acted as famous characters such as Mario and Garfield in their respective theatrical films, as well as playing Barley Lightfoot in Pixar’sOnwarda few years prior. However, his first major voice role wasabout eleven years ago.
The Lego Moviemight have played a crucial role in inspiring other similarmovies based on toysand game franchises, asit serves as an example of how a film based on an existing IP can actually be excellent and tell an original story. Even so long after its release, it remains not only one ofChris Pratt’s best rolesbut also one of the best films adapting an existing IP.
Chris Pratt Voiced Average LEGO Figure Emmet In The Lego Movie
Emmet Is A Large Part Of What Makes The Lego Movie Awesome
Unlike Mario and Garfield, Emmet was an original character created specifically forThe Lego Movie, but part of the point of his character is thathe represents all the basic Lego minifigures that kids grow up playing with. Characters from pre-existing media do have large roles, such asThe Lego Movie’s version of Batmanbeing Lucy’s boyfriend, but the pre-existing characters are all from other media outside their Lego versions. Emmet representing a basic Lego minifigure is important because his role as “The Special” is partly because of how unspecial he is.
It seems likely that Chris Pratt’s role inThe Lego Movieplayed a part in leading him to eventually voice these other classic characters. While Emmet was an original character forThe Lego Movie,the success of Pratt’s performance in that role proved his ability to voice act as a lead in a film based on a classic franchiseand to do it justice.
How The Lego Movie Compares To The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Lego Movie Is A Really Clever Version Of The Hero’s Journey
The Lego MovieandThe Super Mario Bros. Moviehave a lot in common, even outside their lead characters both being voiced by Chris Pratt. Both are animated films that are based on another existing media form that’s often played with by children. They also both feature a character whose life starts out normal and who then ends up going through a version of the classic hero’s journey. Even Lucy and Peach fill similar roles in the narrative.
However,The Lego Movieis clearly the stronger film between the two. There’s a large difference between their Rotten Tomatoes scores, withThe Lego Moviehaving 96% toThe Super Mario Bros. Movie’s 59%. And while they might have somewhat similar plot structures that include references to other franchises,The Lego Movie’s storytelling is a lot more unique thanThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.The Lego Movietook a long time to make, and its long production time definitely paid off.
The Lego Movieis fully aware that it’s retelling a classic story structure, and it’s happy to both lean into it and deconstruct it, whereasThe Super Mario Bros. Moviefollows that structure in a much more typical way. In addition, the switch to live-action inThe Lego Movieis a shocking moment that adds a layer of depth to its story, and it’s hard forThe Super Mario Bros. Movieto compare.
The Lego Movie Is One Of My Favorite Chris Pratt Performances
Emmet Is A Fun Character With A Lot Of Heart
While many characters inThe Lego Moviewere created specifically for the film, most of them are not just average people, adding emphasis toEmmet’s initial role as an average guy. In juxtaposition, we also have Lucy trying to make herself more interesting by calling herself Wyldstyle, drawing even more attention to Emmet’s normality. While he might not represent a specific Lego character, the fact that everyone else seems like they could come from such specific Lego sets adds more depth to Emmet representing the basic idea of a normal Lego minifigure.
Emmet also feels refreshing as a character because he’s such a kind and happy person most of the time. Unlike most of the other people in the film, he genuinely enjoys his life and his job before discovering the problems with the world. Part of the reason he’s so effective as a hero is because of the way that he holds onto that determination to treat other people with kindness and to believe in himself and his friends. These traits are a large part of why Emmet is one of the best characters inThe Lego Movie, as well as the perfect hero for the film.
