Ninjago is based on a toy line which has already spawned a television series. The movie is only loosely tied to this creating pretty much an entirely new world, characters, and ideas which are more in tune with the Lego movie series. A team of secret ninjas, each with an elemental power, battle an evil tyrant who tries to take over the local city. The story, like other Lego movies, is absurdly funny while exploring ideas of identity and family. It's becoming a hallmark of the series and it is all starting to feel a bit repetitive. What felt fresh and remarkable is starting to feel been there done that.
With Ninjago, the theme of connection and family (also played out quite extensively in the Batman film) pushes too far into sentimentality and is also pursued a bit too obviously. I'm not sure if the formula has just been repeated too much by the time this film has rolled around or if the film just plays it all too on the nose. Basically I found Ninjago to just be all too familiar and not fresh enough to remain as entertaining as its predecessors. Ninjago is still funny and entertaining and while not stale per se it has loss its shine of originality. It is fine satisfying entertainment. But I am cautious about whether or not I can muster much excitement for another episode in the Lego movie franchise.
The Lego Ninjago Movie
Starring: Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Jackie Chan, Olivia Munn
Directors: Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher, Bob Logan
Writers: Bob Logan, Paul Fisher, William Wheeler, Tom Wheeler, Jared Stern, John Wittington
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