How The Lego Movie Series is Mirroring the Toy Story Franchise

(This post contains MAJOR SPOILERS for The Lego Movie and the Toy Story movies)

The Lego Movie franchise has quickly become one of the best toy-related franchises of all time, rivaling only the Toy Story movies. They both explore similar themes, yet their different tones and humor styles set them apart. While Toy Story takes place in the real world, The Lego Movie is set in a world made of Lego bricks, the boundaries of which are established by human Finn’s imagination. Both franchises clearly set their rules (the limits of disbelief which we are asked to suspend), but those in the second Lego Movie get a little more confusing, especially with the twist revealing Rex Dangervest to be Emmet from the future. There is an argument to be made that pre-teen Finn could easily come up with the convoluted plot of time travel. However, this does raise the question of what happens to the Rex toy figure once he’s erased from existence, and if the whole confrontation under the dryer is happening independent of what’s actually occurring in the real world. In a way, Rex is in the real world a personification of Finn’s preteen psyche and the battle between his preteen angst and his youth, while in the Lego World, it’s a metaphor for the dangers of trying to change people into who we want them to be instead of accepting who they are. My theory is that the Lego universe is real, but heavily controlled and influenced by what’s happening in the real world. The events of the first film, including Emmet moving on his own, do support this. Even the singing from inside the storage bin attracts Finn’s attention. Also, Emmet’s vision of the future in the beginning of the sequel could be a side effect of Rex’s time travel, and that in the original timeline, he never had that vision. Regardless of whether the Lego world is real, the first two Lego Movie movies already have created an arc for Finn that mirrors that of Andy in the Toy Story films. The films are about Andy’s relationship with his toys, with the third one dealing with his growing up. Meanwhile, The Lego Movie is creating its own independent arc while going in the same inevitable direction. In the first film, Finn deals with his dad, a connection that was used as a third act twist, while the sequel covers his conflict with his sister, Bianca. In the Toy Story series, Andy’s sister, Molly, is mostly a side character, while the joke at the end of the first Lego movie puts the siblings’ relationship front and center. While The Lego Movie 2 didn’t do well at the box office, if a third film is made, it will undoubtedly deal with Finn growing up. Since his mom, played by Maya Rudolph, is close to childbirth, it remains to be seen if his new sibling would play a role in this potential story. Either that or the Legos’ adjusting to a new life when they are donated or passed down in the family could be a potential plotline. In Toy Story 3, Andy gives his toys to Bonnie; Finn could do the same, giving his Legos to both his siblings, leaving many possibilities as to how the franchise could evolve. After all, The Lego Movie 2 already handled the toys being placed in storage, similar to Toy Story 3, but for very different reasons. In one way, The Lego Movie series and especially The Second Part improves on the premise of the Toy Story franchise because it internalizes what it’s like to be a child. In a way, Andy is simply a side character who means a great deal to the main toys, but how much do we actually know about him? The same could be asked of Finn, but through his manipulation of the story and his interactions with his sister and parents, we learn much more about his psyche and the frustrations that motivate him. The Second Part and Toy Story 2 are similar in how the former sequel reveals more about the toy characters’ backgrounds. Although Woody’s origin with the Roundup Gang is revealed, it doesn’t really reshape his character or add to his personal backstory. The Lego Movie 2, however, adds new layers to the original by revealing more of Lucy/Wyldstyle’s history. It expounds on the premise of wanting others to change, since she had tried to change herself in the past and wanted Emmet to do the same. It adds credence to Lucy’s attitude in the first film, especially in dealing with her adopted name everyone thinks sounds like a DJ name, and builds on the original. The two series use music very differently. While they both have an Academy Award-nominated song that’s central to the franchise, with a version of it in every film (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and “Everything is Awesome”), the musical genres are much different, with the Lego movies leaning heavily on pop music. Although unlikely, a third Lego film in the main franchise could explore additional adult themes, offering unique insights to growing up similar to Toy Story 3, but in its own unique Lego way. Maybe Toy Story 4 will have some similarities to the two main Lego films, as well, but only time will tell. Referenced Website: https://screenrant.com/lego-movie-2-rex-dangervest-time-travel-twist-explained/