There came a time in the long history of our favorite space opera where it became hip to try to make it irreverent. We all knew the saga and our devotion and knowledge of every line and cue became an ironic punchline. 'South Park' diagnosed it perfectly with their 'Member berries. In a way 'Star Wars' perfectly lends it's self to the meme format and they were very funny to begin with. Who couldn't laugh at the Jedi and Sith having water cooler talks between the classic battles? A Darth Vader who isn't impressed that he's Darth Vader? Classic The problem is that 'The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special' has come to this brand of 'Star Wars' parody far too late. In truth 'Family Guy' came to it too late with their decade old special. It offers nothing new or innovative.
There is nothing done with the Lego aesthetics at all. No commentary, no sight gags, no self awareness. Audiences expecting a 'Lego Movie' are going to be very disappointed. It's a real shame because the self awareness of being a toy really could have lended a more biting satire to 'Star Wars'. Wouldn't it be funny if the characters commented on the Disney buyout and being peg warmers on the toy store shelves?
As a 'Star Wars' story it does present an interesting plot device that 'Star Wars' really hasn't played with before. The idea of time travel linking all the sagas is clever. It's handled lazily here. The laughs come from seeing the iconic moments be interrupted by Rey falling in on them. Also, It isn't a canonical continuation of the story but I must admit I was disappointed to see Finn be played for broad laughs after John Boyega's complaints on how the character was handled.
Darth Vader has become a big cuddly teddy bear. It's so funny that he's a boring cog in the imperial machine who gets his boss a Galaxy's Best Emperor coffee mug. 'Spaceballs' laid the seeds for this more than thirty years ago, it's tired and not funny. He has no menace anymore.
'The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special' should learn the all too important lesson of not throwing stones when you live in a glass house. The awful and infamous original 'Holiday Special' at least has an earnestness that 'Star Wars' has tried but ultimately failed to achieved. If Lucasfilm is producing parodies making jokes about how bored they are with the franchise then what reason is there for the fans to continue to invest themselves?
There is nothing done with the Lego aesthetics at all. No commentary, no sight gags, no self awareness. Audiences expecting a 'Lego Movie' are going to be very disappointed. It's a real shame because the self awareness of being a toy really could have lended a more biting satire to 'Star Wars'. Wouldn't it be funny if the characters commented on the Disney buyout and being peg warmers on the toy store shelves?
As a 'Star Wars' story it does present an interesting plot device that 'Star Wars' really hasn't played with before. The idea of time travel linking all the sagas is clever. It's handled lazily here. The laughs come from seeing the iconic moments be interrupted by Rey falling in on them. Also, It isn't a canonical continuation of the story but I must admit I was disappointed to see Finn be played for broad laughs after John Boyega's complaints on how the character was handled.
Darth Vader has become a big cuddly teddy bear. It's so funny that he's a boring cog in the imperial machine who gets his boss a Galaxy's Best Emperor coffee mug. 'Spaceballs' laid the seeds for this more than thirty years ago, it's tired and not funny. He has no menace anymore.
'The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special' should learn the all too important lesson of not throwing stones when you live in a glass house. The awful and infamous original 'Holiday Special' at least has an earnestness that 'Star Wars' has tried but ultimately failed to achieved. If Lucasfilm is producing parodies making jokes about how bored they are with the franchise then what reason is there for the fans to continue to invest themselves?