PHLUG Reviews: 70800 The Lego Movie Getaway Glider
First off, on behalf of the Philippine Lego Users Group, I would like to thank the Lego CEE team for graciously supplying our LUG with the available Lego Movie sets for review. You guys make being an AFOL so fun!
The Getaway Glider set is the first, and therefore entry-level, set for the Lego Movie lineup. This review of the $12USD (about Php600 converted, selling at Php 830 - Php 1000 from online resellers, price from official Lego retailer in the Philippines unavailable) will focus on the box and packaging, the minifigures, unique elements and parts, the build, and lastly our recommendation.
THE BOX AND PACKAGING
The box is pretty small - the set is packaged in a square box a little longer than a standard iPhone 5 case. The set that we got was sent direct from the Lego mothership in Denmark, and thus does not include the piece count found in sets bought from the America. The Lego shop says that this set has 104 pieces, including 3 minifigs. The package design follows the template of all Lego Movie sets with a film roll diagonally cutting through the front, and the set elements allowed to take center stage. A curious result of the small packaging size that TLG used is the use of the Sherif’s hat as opposed to their usual practice of using a minifigure to show the actual scale size. Over-all, we’re very happy with the smaller packaging that Lego currently uses.
Once you open the box, you get two un-numbered bags with the pieces, a new horse, a sticker sheet with 4 stickers, and the instruction booklet. Please note that Lego taxonomy assigns the horse as one assembled piece - because it is indeed just one piece.
THE MINIFIGURES
The set comes with the above pictured minifigures, and the horse. Two of those figures, the Sheriff Not-A-Robot and Deputron, are unique to this set. The new horse (in brown color) also only appeared on one other set - the Pony Farm set (10674). The third figure is Emmet. Emmet is included in 7 of the 15 or so currently available TLM sets, so you're bound to be able to get him (and several more of him) one way or another, if you're going to collect TLM sets.
The picture above shows Sheriff Not-a-robot. It's a unique minifig, and all of its elements - especially the moustache, which I believe is a new mold (More on that moustache later) - save for the two revolvers, only come out in this set. The front printing is pretty well done, and the printing on the legs match up well with the torso, yet also allows for customization if, say, you'd like to have those pants match-up with a different torso. The torso, in my opinion, is a great depiction of a lawman that you'd see in those movies you see in the wild, wild west. (In the Philippines, of course, the lawmen never dress like that, but I digress...) I particularly like the star badge on both the torso and the cowboy hat, and the revolver causally sticking out of the waistband. The red tie inside his vest provides a nice visual contrast and shows a good level of detail and thought given on the design.
The head piece seems pretty well done as well. He looks quite menacing with those round eyes and gritted teeth. Now, I wonder why he's called Sheriff Not-a-robot, because he obviously looks like a robot. Unless, of course, he isn't a robot. My first impression of this figure is that it's what Buford "Mad-Dog" Tannen would look like he was a) a Sheriff instead of an outlaw, b) a minifigure made by Lego; and c) assimilated by the Borg. I guess we'll have to wait to catch the movie to figure this one out.
His deputy also has nice printing. The detail on Deputron's torso is excellent as well, and the bandana's blue shade matches up well with the jeans on his legs. His torso also has a badge, and this deputy's entire body lends itself well to future customizations or diorama/vignette setting.
The gun belt belt on his legs is shown with five bullets, which is weird, since he comes with a unique gun - part number 15445 Rifle No. 3 W. 3.2 Shaft - that is obviously a laser or a particle weapon of some sort. Why would he need bullets for an energy weapon? It's apparently a weapon unique to the Lego movie, and is another element (along with the Piece d' Resistance) that we'll find out more about when we watch the movie. His hat is also a new mold, and this color only comes out in this set. Other colors of this new cowboy hat are available from The Lone Ranger sets. I suppose there's a slight difference with regard to the brim or something that differentiates this fedora from the one worn by Indy, but I really can't see any difference (I'm also too lazy to get up and find my Indy minifig to compare.)
The third figure is Emmet, with alt-face.
He's shown here wearing the only costume he has - the construction guy outfit. Though of course, the printing on both the torso and the legs are unique for Emmet. His legs has an ID printed on it. His alt-face seems to be a mix between fear and near-certain death. I just hope that when the movie comes out, he doesn't scream half of the time.
He has a minifg back plate with knob, that allows him to carry around the Piece d' Resistance. Interesting note about that back plate with knob - the only time a white version of that piece came out was with the 4502 X-Wing fighter, 10 years ago.
Emmet also has a unique hair piece, which is the standard brown minifig hair with a tuft of hair sticking out at the back.
THE BUILD
It's a pretty straightforward build. The first thing the instruction booklet tells you to make is the cactus:
I really like the way the green is so green. I really like green stuff.
Up next is the glider.
The build is broken up into four parts: The main chassis, the two wings, and the connecting rods for the wings.
And then you snap it all together, you know what I mean?
And then you put Emmet on the glider and glide awaaay!
Building the glider was like an exercise in tablescrap building. Which isn't a bad thing. You know how it is when you're just faced with making something from the odds and ends of sets you've chopped-up? Well making the glider was like that. It was very fun to just dump all 89 pieces out into a small bin and sift through it. It took me less than 10 minutes to put the whole thing together, and if I get another chance to make this, I'll do it again without following the instructions.
IMPRESSIONS ON THE BUILD
The glider doesn't really make any sense to me. There isn't any means of propulsion, and there isn't any visible means for Emmet to navigate. But then again, I suppose it's meant to look like a hang glider. So there'll be a lot of swooshing and swashing going on to get this thing to move, because you can't fold the wings to get it flying like a bird without Emmet letting go of the chain:
The other thing that I don't appreciate with the design of the glider is how Emmet is attached to it only through the Piece d' Resistance attached to his back plate on top of a black jumper plate.
Since Emmet is only attached via one shallow stud, he can fall off if the glider is bumped while swooshing. And this happened quite a bit while my 5 year old was playing with it. So I devised a fix:
Which wasn't all that ingenious or special because I just removed the jumper plate. It made Emmet more stable while gliding though, but put the Piece d' Resistance at an awkward angle.
Aside from those two insignificant issues, I think the playability factor of the set is outstanding. There's a horse (Happy Chinese New Year, btw, and welcome to the year of the Horse), a Borg-ed out Mad Dog Tannen, a deputy that looks like a cyclopes, and Emmet in a glider.
The parts selection is very varied. The colors and elements evoke a western theme, and I'm sure MOCcers would find a lot of use with these parts.
The other unique parts are the chicken and harpoon. This is the only set where you can get a chicken in flat silver, and one of four where the harpoon comes out in that color as well. The sticker sheet also allows for a lot of applications in western-themed dios.
But to my mind, the element that makes this whole set exceptional is the moustache. The moustache is a unique piece only available with this set. It automatically adds a bad-ass mofo feel to any minifig. Case in point: Mace Windu.
The set comes with two mustaches - one for the Sheriff, and one extra.
Exchanging Mace's head with the Sheriff gives us a black Wyatt Earp.
Let's see any of them lawless individuals come and try to steal from black Wyatt Earp!
This set is clearly meant for playing, not for displaying.
Though I'm sure there will be AFOLs that will get this set (and the other TLM sets) and have them on display in their cabinets, I'm willing to bet my Princess Leia with Smooth Hair that the vast, vast, majority of people who will get this set will do so because of the fig and parts selection and also now, because of this review, the moustache.
This set is also a nice introduction to The Lego Movie. It'll be an easy pickup for parents after watching the movie with their kids next weekend. I hope the local retailer prices it appropriately.
Our recommendation for this set is to get it, and if your budget allows you (or if it goes on sale / clearance), get three or twelve. You can never have enough horses and sheriffs and deputies. And moustaches.
You can never go wrong with Mr. Swabe.
Other reviews can be found here:
Bad Cop Pursuit
Melting Room