Movie Review: The Lego Movie (2014)

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I very much enjoyed The Lego Movie. (And I think that may be a gross  understatement.)

Scott and I saw it with our two daughters (yes, girls!) on Friday night. All of us had to talk ourselves into seeing it (I bribed the girls with popcorn), but we all more or less LOVED it. We may have enjoyed it so much, in part, because our expectations were extremely low, but three days later I find that I keep thinking about it and singing the ridiculous, irresistable, and aptly named theme song, "Everything Is Awesome!"

I had read one review in advance with a spoiler alert about the ending, which I will not reveal. The review intrigued me enough to compel me to see it, though. Almost all of the reviews have been over the top in favor of the movie. This Lego Movie (as opposed to others that have been released directly to DVD) is targeted to all age groups and both genders. It was not made just for little boys who currently play with Legos.

Some of the things I loved about it:

• lots of humor and almost no potty humor
• the inclusion of all of the major types of Lego sets -- Wild West, Star Wars, astronauts, skyscrapers...
• the inclusion of a little romantic intrigue (always a plus when it's well done)
• Batman's personality
• Morgan Freeman in a semi comic role
• the whole premise
• the fun twist at the end, which brought clarity to the whole film
• no cursing of any kind, which is quite amazing for a Will Farrell movie (and I do not usually like Will Farrell movies. Despised 'Elf,' for example.)

The Lego Movie is all about creative freedom and individuality. No wonder it was so great!

My only complaint about it is that the special effects were a bit off-putting, but the story made up for it, as a compelling story always does.

25 Days of Success with the Red X Method

I should probably wait until I've officially gone a full month, but I have to tell the world about the "Red X Method" (for lack of a better term), which I have been using for the past 25 days without fail.

I learned about this method from a link to a link online. The first snippet I read had been published at entrepreneur.com. It related the story of a comedian who crossed paths with the great Jerry Seinfeld at a comedy club. He knew that Seinfeld had been extremely successful at everything he had ever done in comedy -- stand-up, sitcoms, movies, etc. One year he made over 200 million dollars. So he asked Seinfeld the same question hundreds of others have probably asked Seinfeld: How did you become successful in the business?

Seinfeld told him that years ago when he was first starting out he posted a one-year calendar on the wall (January through December, all on one page) and every day that he wrote jokes he could mark a red X over the date. In order to mark the red X he had to actually write jokes -- not just research jokes. (I know from experience it is easier to retreat into 'research,' which may be interpreted as surfing the web.)

What Seinfeld discovered was that he did not want to have a date without a red X, so he wrote jokes every single day in order to avoid breaking the chain. It became essential to his daily routine.

Seinfeld believes that consistency, day in and day out, has kept his comedy fresh and relevant and has been one of the secrets to his success.

So the very day that I read this story I started writing consistently, every day. I began with the book I was closest to finishing, and within a week it was done (I had worked on it for months a couple of years ago before giving it up for some reason.) Twelve days in, I was sending it off to an agent in New York with a newly written query letter (still waiting to hear back, still hopeful, also realistic).

Since sending that book off, I have written every day, but I have floundered a bit in deciding which book to work on next. (I have started and finished at least a dozen fairly serious projects.)  I've chosen a book now and I am making slow but steady progress. New book ideas have been coming at me left and right, too, like they used to when I was writing more frequently. I'm a conduit again for the writing muse, and it feels great.

Of course I've known forever by reading dozens of books on writing that you have to do it every day, but the red x method has been the best motivation I have found. On at least two occasions over the past 25 days I have wanted to bag it and leave the date un-exed, but then I have convinced myself to open up the file and do a little writing. Soon I am absorbed in the work and glad that I didn't miss the opportunity.

Of course the Red X Method can be applied to any endeavor, not just writing or writing jokes. Anything you  want to be doing every day but never seem to find the time for -- mark it with an X!