The LEGO Movie (2014)

Described by Susan Wloszczyna as "'Toy Story' ... spoofed by Mel Brooks after he ate magic mushrooms while reading George Orwell's 1984", The LEGO Movie is also equal parts Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, modern-day Monty Python outing, avant-garde animated feature, and fun family movie (albeit a family movie most of which will just fly over the kiddie's heads). The LEGO Movie follows the adventures of everyman Emmet, a construction worker who is about as average as it gets, after he stumbles upon the magical "Piece of Resistance", and discovers that he is the prophesied hero that will save the universe from being destroyed by Lord/President Business. A description hardly does the movie justice, because it is everything that cannot be described that makes it such a unique and enjoyable experience. Indeed, The LEGO Movie is about as mind-bending and trippy as a mainstream Hollywood feature film can get; a good chunk of the movie is a fantastical and stimulating audiovisual extravaganza, rendered in gorgeous animations that bring to life the wonderful world of LEGOs down to the minutest details. Pop culture references abound, ranging from an overly emotional Batman to Abraham Lincoln sporting a hovercraft. Even the 3D aspect is well done, and the creators make great use of the enhanced depth-of-field offered by the technology, and avoid all the headache-inducing pitfalls associated with it. Beyond the film's entertainment factor, which is very much high, there is a great appeal in its gentle satire and working class protagonist. In an age where the media constantly celebrates and worships the "one-percenters", there is something very refreshing about Emmet, a hero who is special precisely because he is not special. For a movie designed to sell toys, there is a strong moral backbone here (built with a sophisticated interlocking brick system), and plenty of smiles to go around.