Hearing that a movie is based on a toy isn't always a good sign. But The Lego Movie - computer animated in Sydney by Animal Logic to look like a Lego world - is a charmer that transcends what might seem crassly commercial origins.

It's directed and co-written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who did such a nice job with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and manages to evoke some of the fun many of us had of playing with Lego while telling a story that works on more than one level.

Emmet (voiced by Parks and Recreation's Chris Pratt) is a very ordinary guy in the Lego town of Bricksburg. He's a construction worker who follows the rules, drinks overpriced coffee, watches the popular and vacuous sitcom Where are My Pants and has no impact on anyone.

But then he meets the intriguing Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and is taken to meet the prophet Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman). It seems he has been taken for the MasterBuilder who can help foil the evil scheme of President Business (Will Ferrell). It isn't true, of course. But can Emmet find it in himself to help defeat the forces of evil?

It's a familiar believe-in-yourself-and-work-together theme but it's the way it is enacted that matters, with more than a touch of satire and a constant barrage of jokes, both visual and verbal, lots of characters and famous voices. The animation style evokes stop-motion Lego movies, albeit in a more sophisticated fashion, and the story takes us to various Lego locales including The Old West and Cloud Cuckooland, but the slight air of surrealism is eventually explained in a reveal that will resonate with all ages.

The long list of supporting characters include Business' henchman Bad Cop (Liam Neeson) - who disconcertingly with a twist of the face is also Good Cop - Wyldstyle's boyfriend Batman (Will Arnett) and even Abraham Lincoln (Will Forte).

There are plenty of in-jokes for Lego buffs of all ages and like pretty much all good animated movies, this appeals to adults as well as children. It's a beautifully made, funny, and ultimately touching treat.