LEGO My Shark
LEGO My Shark
Jaws in a Jiffy
2024 Director: ?
Starring: Lots of LEGOs!
Several years ago I attended a Renaissance Faire. It was lots of fun, but the most memorable aspect of that event was when two actors staged Shakespeare’s “Romeo in Juliet.” And as in the sixteenth century, Juliet was played by a man. I remember the tragedy being turned into a hilarious comedy, and it only lasted 20 minutes. Then they did it again and cut it down to ten minutes, then five, then one, then 30 seconds! The audience greatly enjoyed seeing the show, each time more abbreviated, and always retaining its essence and liveliness.
I’m reminded of this spectacle in watching “Jaws in a Jiffy,” a cute, comic video lasting a mere 1:30 minutes using LEGOs, created by the same company to introduce its Jaws LEGO Set (LEGO toy bricks and miniature figures).1 Premiering July 4, 2024, the video pays homage to the classic adventure, “Jaws” (1975), which begins on Independence Day in Amity Island, Massachusetts.
The short follows the Spielberg movie highlights: An enormous shark attacks a midnight swimmer and, then, town officials and amateurs hunt the shark to make the New England waters safe for summer travelers. Dialog between the “actors” often takes the form of speech balloons (see above), such as when Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) delivers his iconic line: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” The use of music, grunts, and other noises replaces language, making the video universal and avoiding the need for translations for foreign countries. And, of course, the film’s ominous, iconic theme moves the action forward, particularly when the shark attacks. The actors of the original film are lovingly recreated in LEGO “action figures” (I think I’ll call them that), particularly Scheider, Robert Shaw (Quint), and Richard Dreyfuss (Matt Hooper).
“Jaws in a Jiffy” is one of several LEGO videos available on YouTube that playfully recreate iconic movies, such as “Back to the Future” (1985), and the forthcoming “Wicked” (2024). The nautical story is whimsical and sweet, rather than scary or aggressive. This is great for inspiring play and imagination in children and introducing them to quintessential films. It also avoids any gore, which is nice: the shark merely bounces the blonde cutie on his nose several times, rather than devouring her. The surprise ending is also enjoyable!
Copyright © 2024 by Rosi Prieto, Ph.D.
All Rights Reserved
“Jaws in a Jiffy” video:
Information about the Jaws LEGO Set:
https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2024/july/lego-ideas-jaws-set.