The Lego Ninjago Movie

The Lego Ninjago Movie has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Netflix and Stan, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 1,185 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Dave Franco sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Lego Ninjago Movie is worth clearing space for. The jokes in The Lego Ninjago Movie land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Six young ninjas are tasked with defending their island home of Ninjago. By night, they’re gifted warriors using their skill and awesome fleet of vehicles to fight villains and monsters. By day, they’re ordinary teens struggling against their greatest enemy....high school. The chemistry Dave Franco and Justin Theroux bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It was released in 2017. What keeps The Lego Ninjago Movie from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in The Lego Ninjago Movie. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Dave Franco is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.