Line #74 Trivia/TheLegoMovie


1	* ActingForTwo:
2	** Creator/LiamNeeson as both Bad Cop/Good Cop and his father Pa Cop, and Will Ferrell as both Lord/President Business and [[spoiler:the Man Upstairs]].
3	** The Japanese dub also does this, with Creator/KoichiYamadera as Batman, Lord/President Business and [[spoiler:the Man Upstairs]], and Creator/MiyukiSawashiro as Wyldstyle and Princess [=UniKitty=].
4	** The [[VideoGame/TheLEGOMovieVideogame video game for the movie]] has Creator/KeithFerguson voice both Emmett and Lord Business for parts not lifted from the films.
5	* AscendedFanon:
6	** Various references to LEGO-fandom, such as the term "macaroni brick" for [[https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3063#T=C 3063 Brick, Round Corner 2x2]].
7	** One of the foremen in the construction yard yells for "cheese slopes," a fan term for the [[http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=54200 54200 Slope, 1x1x2/3]].
8	* AwesomeDearBoy: [[ArcWords Haha]], but seriously... A big reason Phil Lord wanted to do this movie was because he was an avid collector of LEGO sets.
9	* BeamMeUpScotty: ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'' fans who weren't happy about their favorite LEGO theme getting only a FreezeFrameBonus frequently say that Wyldstyle referred to ''BIONICLE'' as "not worth mentioning" as a unnecessarily mean-spirited TakeThat. Except she never said that. The exact phrase she used was "we don't need to mention", which is subtly different phrasing but much less antagonistic in meaning; after all, since ''BIONICLE'' has no relevance to the plot or the rest of the movie ({{justified\|Trope}} because [[spoiler:Finn was almost certainly too young to be collecting ''BIONICLE'' sets during its initial run, while [=AFOLs=] traditionally disliked ''BIONICLE'' so The Man Upstairs likely wouldn't have collected them either]]), Wyldstyle is correct in saying that [[TheLawOfConservationOfDetail it is not necessary]] to explicitly mention ''BIONICLE'' in her ExpositionDump.
10	* TheCastShowoff: While the entire role is obviously based on voice acting, Liam Neeson gets to showcase his talent for doing cartoon character voices - most of the scenes where he [[TalkingToThemself argues back and forth in both voices]] are actually done in a single take with no editing, rather than doing both voices separately and splicing them together. The [[VocalDissonance cheery, cartoony]] Good Cop voice is all him too, no editing on the pitch at all. (Interestingly enough, Neeson has mentioned before that the voice of Good Cop is actually [[RealityIsUnrealistic much closer to his natural voice.]])
11	* CastingGag: Creator/WillForte plays UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln here. [[WesternAnimation/CloneHigh This was not the first time this happened.]]
12	* CelebrityVoiceActor: Aside from the main cast and cameo characters, there's still plenty of this. Channing Tatum, Will Arnett and Creator/CobieSmulders play Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman respectively. Also Creator/WillForte, Dave Franco, Jake Johnson, Creator/KeeganMichaelKey and Jorma Taccone all voice minor characters and various extras.
13	* ColbertBump: Good luck going to the comments section of any upload of Creator/JudyGarland's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_9MLwCpTGM How You Gonna Keep Them Down On the Farm]]" without finding any comments referencing this movie. [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment No, it doesn't make any more sense in the context of the movie itself, either.]]
14	* CreatorsFavorite: Emmet mexican voice actor Creator/JoseAntonioMacias, loves playing the main character. He even called [[WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie2TheSecondPart The Second Part]] his favorite movie out of the three LEGO Movies he voiced in the franchise.
15	* {{Defictionalization}}:
16	** Played straight: Many of the wild models dreamt up by the Master Builders [[spoiler:and ultimately Finn]] are available as real toys. As is normal for a movie that's MerchandiseDriven.
17	** Played with: The movie contains objects like Vitruvius' staff, which are clearly ''not'' from the LEGO universe. The licensed toys give these an official brick representation.
18	** There is an actual [[http://mba.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx?icmp=COUS19HomePR3MBADefault Master Builder Academy,]] where members are encouraged to be creative and build whatever they want. So yes, it is possible to become a Master Builder in RealLife.
19	* DVDCommentary: There's two, in fact:
20	** First Commentary with Writers/Directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, and Actors Chris Pratt, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Will Arnett and briefly Elizabeth Banks.
21	** Second Commentary with Miller and Lord, co-director and editor Chris Mckay and Film Critic Hulk
22	* ExiledFromContinuity: While the movie is filled to the brim with the then-current and a number of previous LEGO lines throughout the history of the company, licensing issues prevented certain themes from showing up, due to the film being made by Creator/WarnerBros with ''Franchise/StarWars'' specifically cited in spite of the brand's history with LEGO (it's owned by Disney, Warner Bros.'s biggest rival). [[spoiler:[[LyingCreator They lied]] about ''Star Wars'', to keep one of the biggest gags in the movie a surprise.]]
23	* FakeAmerican: Toronto-born Creator/WillArnett as Batman.
24	* FollowTheLeader: The success of ''The LEGO Movie'' would inspire other films that explore a secret world of toys or anthropomorphic beings that exist alongside humans most notably ''WesternAnimation/TheEmojiMovie'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Uglydolls}}'', ''WesternAnimation/PlaymobilTheMovie'' and ''Bobbleheads: The Movie''. None of these films were able to replicate the success of ''The LEGO Movie'' and ended up as critical and commercial flops.
25	* KidsMealToy: UsefulNotes/McDonalds had a set of eight collectible cups, each one featuring one of the film's characters; Emmet, Wyldstyle, Vitruvius, [=UniKitty=], Batman, [=MetalBeard=], Bad Cop, and President Business.
26	* LyingCreator: Before the film's release, LEGO kept telling people that [[spoiler:''Star Wars'' characters]] wouldn't be appearing due to licensing conflicts. This kept one of the film's best cameos a nice surprise.
27	* MarthDebutedInSmashBros: Two of Creator/DCComics most prominent characters, ComicBook/WonderWoman and Franchise/TheFlash, actually made their theatrical debuts here. It also marks the first time the ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica have appeared in a theatrical release together, even if they aren't referred to as such.
28	* OfficialFanSubmittedContent: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUWtZ488ILg This short film]] won a contest to appear in ''The LEGO Movie''. It appears at the climax on Lord Business' screen when [[spoiler:the entire LEGO world mobilizes against his army.]]
29	* TheOtherMarty:
30	** The Japanese dub's first trailer had Creator/IchiroNagai as the voice of Vitruvius. Presumably due to Nagai's death in January of 2014, the role is instead played by Michio Hazama.
31	** Also from the Japanese trailer, Emmett was instead voiced by [[Creator/MinaTominaga Miina]] [[CrossdressingVoices Tominaga]] [[spoiler:, most likely to stay consistent with the climax as she also appears to be the voice of Finn]], but in the movie proper was voiced by the more appropriate Creator/ToshiyukiMorikawa.
32	** The exact same was true for the Hungarian version: early promos featured one of Morgan Freeman's two "regular" dubbing actors (Gábor Reviczky), later ones used the other (László Helyey). With Helyey's death in January, the dub was made using a third actor, who sounded nothing like Freeman. Outside of Wyldstyle, all other character also changed their voices from the promos.
33	** Tie-in materials often vary which film actor returns for it. Some things, like the tie-in game, replace the cast entirely, while others, usually shorts or the ride, only do it partially.
34	* PlayingAgainstType:
35	** Two types as Creator/LiamNeeson; as [[RabidCop Bad Cop]], because he's never outright that mean, and Good Cop, because he's never that wimpy and nice.
36	** Zig-zagged with Creator/WillFerrell as [[spoiler:the strait-laced dad/Man Upstairs]], who is against his usual type, and Lord Business, who isn't as much.
37	** Emmet has none of the snarkiness and sarcasm typically associated with Creator/ChrisPratt.
38	** [=MetalBeard=] has none of the calmness or stoicism commonly used by Creator/NickOfferman
39	* PlayingWithCharacterType:
40	** Morgan Freeman plays a MagicalNegro, but one who is a TricksterMentor with [[DeadpanSnarker an acerbic wit]].
41	** Will Ferrell plays a villain who mispronounces things the way WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}} does, but it's where the similarity ends. Lord Business is really [[spoiler:a little boy's portrayal of his father, who is a control freak]].
42	** Liam Neeson does his usual tough guy schtick as Bad Cop, but comically exaggerated, and as Good Cop, gets to do a character that's the exact opposite and [[TalkingToThemself argues with the former character.]]
43	* ProductionPosse: Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill were the leads from Phil Lord and Chris Miller's ''Film/TwentyOneJumpStreet'', are cast here as Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/GreenLantern.
44	* PromotedFanboy: Most of the cast and crew by nature, but Creator/LiamNeeson two-fold. He and his nieces and nephews played with LEGO and he jumped at the chance at a role in the film. He also visibly {{Squee}}d a little during an interview when he talked about making jokes with Creator/WillFerrell.
45	* RecursiveAdaptation: Yes, the film has [[http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/178117-comic-con-lego-announces-building-sets-and-video-game-for-the-lego-movie gotten LEGO sets based off of it.]]
46	* TheRedStapler:
47	** Most of the sets, props, and characters can be bought as actual Lego sets.
48	** You can make a double-decker couch that looks [[http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Watch-LEGO-Movie-Double-Decker-Couch-Come-Life-71401.html like the one in the movie.]]
49	* RoleReprise:
50	** [[spoiler:Creator/AnthonyDaniels and Creator/BillyDeeWilliams reprise their roles as [[Franchise/StarWars C-3PO and Lando Calrissian]] respectively]].
51	** In the Italian dub, Claudio Santamaria reprises his role as Batman from ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''.
52	** In the Brazilian dub:
53	*** Creator/GuilhermeBriggs, who voiced Superman in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' cartoon, ''Film/ManOfSteel'' and ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'', as well as [[spoiler:Han Solo in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies]], reprises those two roles.
54	*** Creator/MauroRamos, who voiced Dumbledore in the last Harry Potter movie, reprises his role.
55	*** Sérgio Stern, who voiced C-3PO in some ''Star Wars'' movies and the Clone Wars cartoon, reprises his role.
56	*** Luiz Carlos Persy, who voiced Gandalf in ''Film/TheHobbit'', reprises his role.
57	** In the Canadian French dub, Batman is voiced by Daniel Picard. While he was very likely cast because he also voiced Will Arnett in most of his other movies, he's also the official Canadian French voice actor of Creator/GeorgeClooney, including in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' (which starred Clooney as the Caped Crusader himself).
58	* SerendipityWritesThePlot: The "meet me downstairs/upstairs in ten seconds" RunningGag came about because the animators couldn't figure out how to animate the LEGO characters going up and down stairs without it looking awkward.
59	* ShowAccuracyToyAccuracy:
60	** A rather interesting case, as the movie is about the toys themselves. Any sets that existed prior to the movie appeared in the show as they would. In addition, several of the "2 in 1" sets were the models sold in the sets. However, some of the plot-critical sets like Emmet's Construct-o-Mech and [=MetalBeard=]'s ship are vastly different (at least structurally) from their movie counterparts. Likewise, none of the Micromanagers in any of the sets are identical to the ones that appeared. However, all of these sets at least ''look'' like what they're suppose to; presumably the difference in construction is due to scale and design.[[note]]The Sea Cow might not actually be able to be built, as it seems to change size and design depending on which shot was needed. Even if it could be built, it would be huge, as [=MetalBeard=] himself appears in a separate set completely movie-accurate, and stands about the size of an action figure. If his ship were made to scale, it'd be the size of a coffee table. Same goes for Emmet's Construct-o-Mech, as it would have a piece count rivaling that of many high-end Star Wars or Technic sets. Lord Business's Evil Lair is very compressed to allow it to be affordable but still including key locations and scenes. A notable example is Bad Cop's Pursuit. His flying-mode car is exactly what appears in the film, but only a tiny section of train track is included to go with it.[[/note]]
61	** Benny's Spaceship and Cloud Cuckoo Palace actually appears in near-completely show-accurate form. [[spoiler:This is because they both appear in the real world, so presumably an actual, real life model needed to be developed for those scenes. The Spaceship is pretty prominent, but the palace appears in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment when Finn's dad points to Finn's LEGO section. The Super Secret Police Dropship is the same model in the sets as in the movie.]]
62	** An interesting subversion comes in the form of a goof. When developing the model for Emmet, the designers thought to put an "authentic" imperfection on his hairpiece in the form of an injection-molding seam down the front. [[spoiler:This turned out to be a mistake, since the physical minifigure used in the live-action shots and the sets does not have the seam, making the model created for the animated sequences incorrect, but presumably, it was too late to fix.]]
63	** One short subverts this by having the Green Ninja (Lloyd Garmadon) sound masculine, and nothing like his normal VA, Jillian Michaels. It's rather jarring for ''Ninjago'' fans.
64	* SpoiledByTheMerchandise: Bad Cop's [[spoiler:"Scribble Face"]] minifigure revealed his fate in the movie, and while not an exact interpretation of the scenes, the "Lord Business' Evil Lair" playset revealed many details, including Bad Cop's parents frozen by glue and Princess [=UniKitty=] in her [[PaperThinDisguise "business" disguise]].
65	* StarMakingRole: ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' got him noticed, but it was this movie combined with ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' the same year that propelled Creator/ChrisPratt to the A-list.
66	* ThrowItIn:
67	** Creator/LiamNeeson ad-libbed "Darn darn darn darny darn!"
68	** Similarly, Vitruvius' line to Dumbledore, "We gotta write all that down, 'cause I'm not gonna remember any of it" was originally an off-the-cuff remark by Morgan Freeman in the recording studio.
69	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
70	** The directors couldn't get all the licensed characters they wanted. They haven't said who these were, but obvious absentees various Disney properties including Franchise/MarvelUniverse, ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'', and ''Franchise/StarWars''. [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope Except]] ''Star Wars'' characters ''did'' make it into the movie, which was thought otherwise thanks to the creators deliberately misleading the audience in interviews. Of course, LEGO has worked with ''Star Wars'' since long before Disney came into the picture]].
71	** A dropped sub-title would have been [[MacGuffinTitle "The Piece of Resistance"]].
72	** A script for the old [[http://www.mediafire.com/view/d8xlxu80kyzuyku/original_LEGO_disaster_script.pdf ''Piece of Resistance'']] title has surfaced. It's incredibly different from the final version, with many of the character's names changed, [[Franchise/StarWars R2-D2]] and Franchise/IndianaJones being main characters (this was before Lucasfilm was bought by Disney), Emmet still living with his elderly mother, who turns out to be "the most powerful woman in the universe", had Bad Cop actually swear instead of saying "darn", Larry the Barista having a larger role, and Benny having a co-pilot that's an [[CompanionCube inanimate mop]] called [[ShapedLikeItself Moppy]].
73	** The ending credits were meant to be more grandiose with the LEGO bricks spelling out the casts' name in a world that represents them ([=UniKitty=] would be in a cutesy world, Batman a Gotham-like city, etc). But the producers found it would take too many LEGO bricks and time to do, as the credits were actual stop-motion rather than CGI like the rest of the film.
74	** [=MetalBeard=] was originally going to be Wyldstyle's boyfriend, until they decided Batman would be even crazier.
75	** There was a planned [[TheBigDamnKiss Big Damn Kiss]] between Emmet and Wyldstyle (PlayedForLaughs and depicted as two toys awkwardly mashing against each other) but focus groups were iffy on it, and it was decided that HoldingHands was more appropriate.
76	** [=UniKitty=] was originally going to end up with either [=MetalBeard=] or [[spoiler:Batman]] at the end of the movie.
77	** Lord Business's name was originally going to be "Black Falcon".
78	** The filmmakers considered Creator/MichaelKeaton, Creator/ValKilmer, Creator/GeorgeClooney or Creator/ChristianBale to reprise the role of Batman.

Context Trivia / TheLegoMovie