When the trailer for Playmobil: The Movie was first released, it seemed to elicit a general response: “Wait, is not that just a cheaper version of The Lego Movie?” Those who do not distinguish their Playmobil clicks from their Lego One can forgive mini-figs, considering that Playmobil is just another Lego spinoff, like The Lego Ninjago Movie. But no, it’s a separate movie franchise designed for the German Playmobil company, which The Lego Movie did for the Danish Lego company.
But can this suspiciously similar-looking new movie possibly hold a candle that meets the high standards of Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s modern classic? I wanted to answer that question, but Playmobil: The movie was not screened for critics. So, on a screening on the opening day, where I was the only person in my entire theater, I appeared much to the astonishment of the ushers. (The guy who took my ticket said, “Oh, I thought that was a kids movie.” I could only answer, “It’s like that.”) With this bit of social awkwardness, I implemented a five-point criterion Find out how similar these two films actually are.
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1. The Real World / Animation juxtaposition
One of the things that makes the first Lego movie so awesome is the big revelation in the third act (Spoiler Ahead!) That the animated story is an adventure played by a creative kid who plays with the Lego. Set of his perfectionist father plays. Similarly, Playmobil mixes live action and animated storytelling, although it’s more akin to Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, in which the live action section opens the film and focuses on a brother-sister relationship. In this case, this is 18-year-old Marla (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her little brother Charlie (Ryan S. Hill).
Unlike the Lego Movie series, in which the animated world depicts the stories people play, Marla and Charlie actually dive into the world of Playmobil, where they are trapped in plastic figurative bodies. (Marla looks mostly like herself while Charlie transforms into a super-strong, bearded Viking warrior.) That way, Playmobil feels more like Jumanji: welcome to the jungle or a series of 1990s children’s films like Macaulay Culkin’s The Pagemaster ,
Judgment: Something like that, but with a big difference.
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2. The emotional topics
The Lego movie has a moving emotional core about a father who needs to learn to relax and understand his son. But that’s nothing compared to the emotions at Playmobil. Within the first five minutes of the film, Marla and Charlie’s parents were killed in a car accident. Four years later, Marla had to set aside her dreams of traveling around the world so she could serve her little brother (now played by Gabriel Bateman) as a single mother. Charlie is angry that Marla has lost her adventurous spirit and becomes a boring adult, which is hard considering how she has stirred up her life for him. But the whole movie is about how Marla learns to regain her youthful zest for life while still being a responsible guardian for Charlie.
Judgment: Very different.
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3. The music
The Lego movie gave the world the almost unbearable earwig “Everything Is Awesome”, but it’s not really a complete musical. Playmobil, however, opens with Marla delivering an optimistic live action music performance directly from a smaller Disney Channel original. Anya Taylor-Joy is a master of silent intensity in films like The Witch and Split. So it’s an explosion to plunge into something so joyous, especially if she has surprisingly capable whistles.
Unfortunately, most songs in Playmobil are generic and memorable. And while this seems like a clear case of Playmobil doing at least something other than The Lego Movie, bringing the music to the fore more clearly, The Lego Movie 2 also strengthened the musical involvement of the first film, so that even this element feels less unique. However, the Lego Movie franchise still has to deal with live action vocals, giving Playmobil some points for originality. And at least some of the songs in the film – including one written by Meghan Trainor – have some knock-off characteristics.
Judgment: Unlike the Lego movie, not unlike the Lego movie 2.
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4. The pop culture references
On the surface, Playmobil is not nearly the same IP smorgasbord as The Lego Movie, as The Lego Movie had access to DC Comics and Harry Potter franchise characters, while Playmobil Ghostbusters’ largest franchise binding toy lines, How To Train Your Dragon, are and the NHL. Instead, Playmobil emphasizes the world-wide production of its playground equipment. Charlie is abducted by the evil Emperor Maximus (Adam Lambert), who holds a gladiatorial competition in the Roman Empire of Constantinopolis. Charlie’s inmates include a pirate captain named Bloodbones (Kenan Thompson), a caveman named Ook (Kirk Thornton) and an Amazonian named Valera (Paloma Michelle). Elsewhere, Marla undertakes a mission with relaxed food truck driver Del (Jim Gaffigan) to take them to the Old West, a futuristic science-fiction world, and to a spy adventure with a polite, self-confident spy leads Rex Dasher (Daniel Radcliffe).
So while Playmobil does not technically name anything, it has its own perspective on pop culture references. Rex is an obvious James Bond parody (Radcliffe is funny in the role), and many creatures from the sci-fi world look suspiciously like Star Wars characters. A trip to a fairytale kingdom is an opportunity for first-time director Lino DiSalvo to pay tribute to his long career at Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he served as the animation director of the first Frozen movie. Playmobil has a slightly more historical perspective than The Lego Movie (plus many more Vikings), but the zanily mishmashed world-building is definitely the place where the two films feel most similar.
Judgment: Exactly the same and The Lego Movie makes it better.
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5. The humor
The Lego movie had a manic laugh style, while Playmobil only occasionally makes a polite giggle. It’s not nearly so funny, but it’s not really meant that way either. Playmobil is aimed at younger audiences, and filmmakers are less interested in delivering the winking appeal of The Lego Movie to all ages. Instead, they provide a low-key, non-judgmental message about looking for adventure and fun where you can find it, even if it’s only through fantasy and play.
And this ethos “Be everything you want to be” has benefits. For one thing, the film does not have to define Marla either as a tomboy or as a girl. She performs both as a princess in her robe and as a knight in shining armor, not to mention a spy, a sci-fi heroine, and a strangely unconvincing cowgirl.
While many modern children’s films (especially those based on toys or apps) are crass and cheap, Playmobil is heartfelt and serious. It does not have much to offer childrenless moviegoers, and it usually feels like The Lego Movie when the serial numbers are filed. But it’s a kind of movie that entertains kids without driving their parents mad. In addition, the film may be released in the country’s cinemas due to panic about a possible cash bomb at a discounted price of $ 5. It’s not the best children’s movie in the city, but maybe the cheapest.
Judgment: Different, and that’s okay.
Playmobil: The movie is in the cinema now.
