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'The Lego Movie' on Grace and Law

The Lego Movie offers a subtle exploration of grace, legalism, and lawlessness. The cold-hearted "President Business," who controls the media, business, and government through his Octan Energy Corporation, represents legalism. Under his iron-fist rule, everyone follows the instructions at home and work, enforced by cheery "I've got my eye on you!" ads and surveillance cameras. The "Master Builders" are President Business' greatest threat. They refuse to slavishly follow senseless rules, a crime that gets them locked up by President Business.

But the film also shows the other extreme from legalism—lawlessness. One of the movie's heroes, a former rule-following construction worker-legalist named Emmet, lands in Cloud Cuckoo Land, a place without any rules or laws to follow. As Emmet approaches Cloud Cuckoo Land, he watches a horde of Legos dancing, whirling, and partying to loud music. "O-kaaay … " Emmet says, taking it all in. "I'm just going to come right out … I have no idea what's going on or what this place is at all."

Suddenly a cute unicorn-kitten hybrid bounces up to Emmet and yells, "Hiiiii! I am Princess UniKitty, and I welcome you all to Cloud Cuckoo Land!" As Emmet watches the unrestricted partying, he says, "So there are no signs on anything. How does anyone know what not to do?" UniKitty cheerfully explains, "Here in Cloud Cuckoo Land there are no rules. There's no government, no baby-sitters, no bedtimes, no frowny faces, no bushy mustaches, and no negativity of any kind." One of Emmet's friends replies sarcastically, "You just said the word no, like, a thousand times." UniKitty smiles sweetly and replies, "And there's also NO consistency."

Emmet asks, "So do you guys have laws here or building codes or gravity?" UniKitty says, "Any idea is a good one except the not-happy ones. Those you push down deep inside where you'll never, ever, ever, EVER find them."

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