Story Structure Analysis: The Lego

Movie (Movie)
January 24, 2017Marshall Dotson

Format: Movie

Released: 2014

Screenplay By: Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Directed By: Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Run Time: 93 minutes

Character: Emmet Brickowski

Plot summary of the 2014 film The Lego

Movie continues below…
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The Lego Movie: Story Structure Analysis

DRAMATIC PHASE ONE: THE SETUP

All of the main characters are introduced. The story world and its
mechanics are established. Foundations are laid for the main
throughline, subplots and central conflict.

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition

as he pursues an Initial Goal. But when there is a Disturbance to his
routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must
assume a New Role.

Emmet Brickowski is a lonely, friendless, unimportant, construction guy

(the imperfect situation) covertly being manipulated by an oppressive
government (oppressive opposition) who just wants to fit in, have
everybody like him and always be happy (the initial goal). But when he
stumbles upon a mysterious object under a construction site in pursuit
of a strange girl (the disturbance), he is mistaken for “the Special” by
the authorities and must choose between being executed (the
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 dilemma) and pretending to be the Special (the new role).

The Imperfect Situation: Despite Emmet’s enthusiasm, none of the

people he interacts with seem to know who he is. His only friend is a
plant.

It’s clearly for medicinal purposes.

Initial Goal: Emmet follows a set of instructions delineating his goal to

fit in, have everybody like him and always be happy.

Oppressive Opposition: Emmet is unwittingly a participant in Lord

Business’ oppressive scheme to enslave the universe. This is finally
brought to his attention when he is sentenced by Bad Cop to be melted
to death despite his innocence.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: Emmett loses his

instructions, is smitten at the unexpected appearance of the stunning
Wyldstyle and falls down a hole chasing after her. There he finds and
touches the piece of resistance.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 10 of 93 minutes

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 (10.7%) – Emmet wakes up restrained and is interrogated by Good Cop
and Bad Cop. He is revealed to have the mythical “piece of resistance”
stuck to his back. When Wyldstyle shows up and saves him, he must
choose between staying in Bricksburg at the mercy of the police, or
becoming the Special and going on the run.

The New Role: If Emmet agrees to go on the run with Wyldstyle, he will
become the Special.

Act Run Time: 18 of 93 minutes (19.3%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and

faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal. But
when he receives a Reality Check, he makes a Commitment to his
New Role.

Act Start Time: 18 of 93 minutes (19.3%)

Emmet tries to blend in in the Old West and learns about the prophecy
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 (the unfamiliar situation) but is ridiculed by Wyldstyle and the locals
(incidental opposition) as he attempts to rendezvous with Vitruvius (the
transitional goal). But when Bad Cop tracks him down and the locals rat
him out (the reality check), Emmet and the gang are forced to escape
to another realm before Emmet can receive any training (the
commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Emmet has no idea what the Old West is. It’s
a dangerous place, and Wyldstyle has to teach him how to behave.
Emmet doesn’t know anything about Master Builders or the prophecy
or anything in general, and must be brought up to speed.

Transitional Goal: Emmet and Wyldstyle attempt to rendezvous with

Vitruvius.

Incidental Opposition: The duo arrives in the Old West where it is

made clear Emmet’s ineptitude is likely to get him killed. Not to mention
Wyldstyle thinks he’s a total spazoid. They go to a saloon where Emmet
stands out and is subsequently threatened by the bar’s patrons.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check: Emmet’s mind is shown

to be prodigiously empty.
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 “You need to cut back on that plant, man.”

Bad Cop shows up, and Sheriff Not-A-Robot tells him where Emmet is
hiding.

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 32 of 93 minutes

(34.4%) – Bad Cop and his army of robots attack, and the gang is
forced to escape, first in a stagecoach and then in the Batwing with
Batman. Like it or not, Emmet is now committed to his New Role as the
Special, which pits him against Lord Business in the Central Conflict.

Act Run Time: 19 of 93 minutes (20.4%)

DRAMATIC PHASE TWO: CONFRONTATION

The character is thrown in the middle of the Central Conflict and is

placed at direct odds with the forces of antagonism. He undergoes a
series of successes and failures as he works toward resolving the main
throughline.

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

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 The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces
Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal. But when there is
a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth.

Act Start Time: 37 of 93 minutes (39.7%)

Emmet and the gang try to stop Lord Business’ sinister plan (the central
conflict), but Emmet’s idiocy is realized by both the Master Builders and
Octan (intentional opposition) when he tries to rally the Master Builders
to attack Octan Tower (the false goal). But when Bad Cop tracks them
to Cloud Cuckoo Land and captures all but a few of the Master Builders
(the turn), the remaining Master Builders see the benefits of Emmet’s
seemingly useless ideas and rally behind him to develop a new course
of action (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: Emmet and the Master Builders battle Lord
Business’ and his plan to Kragle the whole universe on Taco Tuesday.

False Goal: Emmet and his crew visit Cloud Cuckoo Land and attempt
to assemble the Master Builders to attack Octan Tower.

“This place reeks of plant.”

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 Intentional Opposition: It is now clear the bad guys are after them.
Batman stands vehemently between Emmet and Wyldstyle. The Master
Builders turn on Emmet upon hearing his motivational speech. Bad Cop
and the forces of evil crash the party, capture all the Master Builders
and level Cloud Cuckoo land.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: Bad Cop follows Emmet’s crew
using a tracking device on Emmet’s leg. Cloud Cuckoo land is
destroyed. The submarine hastily constructed by Emmet’s gang falls
apart and seemingly kills everyone aboard. Bad Cop tells Lord Business
the only remnant of the Special is a double-decker couch.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 52 of 93

minutes (55.9%) – Emmet’s couch stays together, and everyone uses it
to survive. Metal Beard shows up in his pirate ship and rescues them,
hailing Emmet’s ideas as surprisingly useful. Emmett gives a better
speech and gets everyone to devise a cohesive plan.

Emmet decides he is indeed a unique individual who can make a valid

contribution. He and the Master Builders devise a plan to bring the fight
to Lord Business.

Act Run Time: 18 of 93 minutes (19.3%)

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 ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted

Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal. But when an
unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and
discovers a Newfound Resolve.

Act Start Time: 55 of 93 minutes (59.1%)

Emmet and the gang implement a plan to sneak into Octan Tower (the
doomed plan), but walk right into Lord Business’s clutches (self-
inflicted opposition) while trying to put the piece of resistance on the
Kragle (the penultimate goal). But when a mortally wounded Vitruvius
admits to Emmet he made up the prophecy (the lowpoint), Emmet
sacrifices himself to free the others and Wyldstyle concocts a plan to
enlist the aid of the citizens of the universe (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: Emmet and the gang’s plan to sneak into Octan
tower fails, Vitruvius is killed, and everyone is captured.

Penultimate Goal: Emmet and the Master Builders attempt to sneak

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 into Octan Tower and put the piece of resistance on the Kragle.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: Emmet and the gang willingly go into Octan

tower, walking into Lord Business’ trap.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: Vitruvius is mortally

wounded. Before dying, he confesses to Emmett he made up the
prophecy of the Special. Lord Business sets the timer to kill all the
Master Builders and Emmett. Emmet is sad because he isn’t special
after all. Lord Business takes his tower ship to Bricksburg and begins
releasing the Kragle.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 71 of 93

minutes (76.3%) – Ghost Vitruvius shows up and tells Emmett he can
still be the Special if he just believes in himself.

“I’ve seen the face of God. He complimented my portrayal in “Bruce Almighty”.”

Emmett manages to rock the battery he is attached to free and rolls it

into the abyss of infinite nothingness. Emmet’s decision to stop Lord
Business at all costs gives Wyldstyle an idea to save the universe.
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 Act Run Time: 19 of 93 minutes (20.4%)

DRAMATIC PHASE THREE: RESOLUTION

The character engages in a final confrontation with the forces of

antagonism to resolve the Central Conflict. The main throughline and all
additional subplots are resolved. The new status quo is established.

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition

while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal. But just when it
seems All is Lost, he makes a Final Push against the forces of
antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 74 of 93 minutes (79.5%)

Wyldstyle hijacks a TV program to convince the citizens of Bricksburg

to fight back against President Business (the longshot) and faces an
attack by his minions (ultimate opposition) while Emmet gets a new
piece of resistance from a human child to put on the Kragle (the
ultimate goal). But when the citizens and Master Builders are overrun
by Lord Business’ micromanagers (all is lost), Emmett returns to
Bricksburg with the vision of a Master Builder, fights his way through
the city and faces off with Lord Business (the final push).

The Longshot: Wyldstyle’s uses the TV to get the citizens to fight back
against Lord Business with their creativity. Meanwhile, Emmet tries to
enlist the aid of a human child to get the piece of resistance back.
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 Ultimate Goal: Emmet’s motley crew wants to Defeat Lord Business
and his minions, put the piece on the Kragle, and save the universe.

Ultimate Opposition: Lord Business releases his micromanagers and

the Kragle upon the unsuspecting citizens of Bricksburg. Emmet is
detained by The Man Upstairs who is revealed to be behind all this
Kragle business. Emmet must face off with Lord Business directly and
appeal to his sense of decency.

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: Wyldstyle and the citizens of

Bricksburg are overrun by the micromanagers. Emmet is apprehended
by the Man Upstairs who calls him an unimportant construction guy.

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 84 of 93 minutes

(90.3%) – With the help of the human child and a cat poster, Emmett
returns to Bricksburg and sees the world with the vision of a Master
Builder.

“KEANU!”

He builds a robot suit and fights his way through the city with the help
of Princess Unikitty. He faces off with Lord Business but ends up
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 getting his foot Kragled. The man upstairs and his son have a heart to
heart, which is mirrored by Emmett and President Business. Emmet/the
child convince Lord Business/The Man Upstairs to put the cap on the
Kragle and end the conflict.

Act Run Time: 17 of 93 minutes (18.2%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the

Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation.

Act Start Time: 91 of 93 minutes (97.8%)

Emmet is liked and respected. He even gets to hold hands with

Wyldstyle. President Business is now on the side of good.

The New Situation: In an uncharacteristic act of humility, Batman tells

Wyldstyle Emmet is the hero she deserves. Emmet and Wyldstyle
finally hold hands. President Business distributes the antidote for the
Kragle, and the people are set free. The human and his childling play
with Legos together. But now that Finn’s sister is also allowed to play, a
new threat arises… for the sequel.

Act Run Time: 2 of 93 minutes (2.2%)

To learn more about Six Act story structure, purchase your copy of
“Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret” today!
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