In a perfect example of how a single Hollywood project can change your career, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs loomed into Lord and Miller’s view in 2006. The project had first been announced in May 2003 as part of the first animated slate of Sony Pictures Animation, with The Brizzi Brothers (Paul and Getan, also formerly of Disney) attached to direct from a screenplay adapted by Wayne Price. That production had evidently stalled, and Lord and Miller were announced as the new team leading the project – writing and directing. In 2008, the cast was announced (and featured a number of Lord Miller collaborators) – Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Mr T, Andy Samberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Benjamin Bratt, Al Roker, Lauren Graham and Will Forte.
The film saw the duo return to their first love – animation – bringing with them all the experience gained from showrunning large TV productions and writing and producing a range of comedy. Based on Judi and Ron Barrett’s children’s book of the same name, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs focuses on Flint Lockwood – a scientist convinced of his own genius. He lives on a tiny island whose economy – and food chain – is based entirely on sardines. Though well-intentioned, Flint’s inventions regularly end in failure – much to the dismay of his sceptical, widowed father. Seeing an opportunity to redeem himself, and in response to a brewing food crisis, Flint invents the FLDSMDFR (the ‘Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator’), which turns water into food. When his latest clumsy mishap accidentally sends his invention rocketing into the sky, the phrase “inclement weather” begins to take on a whole new meaning. The movie was a bona fide box office success – with the $100 million budgeted project raking in over $243 million at the global box office after its release on September 18th, 2009.
Where does a talented and versatile creative duo go from there? Having delivered an animated studio blockbuster, and with Hollywood at their feet, Lord and Miller turned their attention to some live-action giggles, with 21 Jump Street. Produced by and starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, the film boasted a script written by Michael Bacall, based on a story penned by Bacall and Hill that was an update of the popular 1987 TV show of the same name. Created by Patrick Harsburgh and Stephen J Cannell, the 21 Jump Street TV series had essentially catapulted Johnny Depp to fame at the time.
The film takes place 20 years after the events of the TV series, and centres on two police officers assigned to an undercover unit to pose as high school students in an attempt to break up and prosecute a drug ring. This comedic take on a dramatic TV series had a number of directors under consideration until Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs placed the names of Lord and Miller at the top of everyone’s lists. Leaping aboard the project at the end of 2009, the team helped steer the film from a $42 million budget, to a $206 million global haul – pulling in critical praise along with it.
As surely as day follows night, sequels follow blockbusters, and so Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 rolled into production. This time, Lord and Miller wrote the story, along with Erica Rivinoja (Awesometown, Extreme Movie), who then turned it into a screenplay with the help of John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein (Horrible Bosses). For this second outing, the director’s chairs were occupied by Cody Cameron – the director of Open Season 3 – and Kris Pearn, who had been Head of Story on the first instalment. Lord and Miller were executive producers, again helping guide the project to box office success – with global takings of $261 million, exceeding those of the first film. The duo was otherwise occupied, however, as in addition to directing and executive producing the pilot episode of Golden Globe winning TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, they were working hard on what would become one of the most anticipated films of 2014: The LEGO Movie.
Filmmakers have been trying to make a LEGO movie for years, and have all been roundly rejected by the Danish toy company. By 2008, however, a project was finally in development at Warner Bros. Dan and Kevin Hageman were on board, scripting a comedy/action/adventure story that would combine animation and live-action, and by 2010, Lord and Miller were signing up to write and direct the project. Keen to dispel entrenched attitudes that a LEGO movie would simply be a lengthy marketing ploy for the beloved construction kit, Phil Lord emphasised their philosophy to The Hollywood Reporter that the story is always king.
“It was a disaster for years, but – and this is not a sexy answer although it’s the truth – it’s about the story. If you focus on the story, and the emotional story of the character, then you can get away with everything that you want. As long you nail that through-line, the rest of the world can be insane.”
The intention of Lord and Miller was to make the whole thing look “home-made,” and exactly the opposite of an advertisement for a toy. For the filmmakers, the LEGO is simply a medium for telling a good story – in the same way that the adventures of Wallace and Gromit are depicted using Claymation. Using a seamless combination of stop-motion and CGI, everything onscreen looks like a real LEGO piece – including explosions, smoke, water, fire and laser bolts. This sets the film apart from many of the short fan-made LEGO movies that are available on YouTube, as does the creation of “the catchiest tune” ever, ‘Everything Is Awesome’ – which, thanks to the trailer, is already firmly stuck in the minds of audiences everywhere, before they have even seen the movie.