The double-decker couch – Emmet’s invention in The LEGO Movie – was not particularly popular with Vitruvius and Wyldstyle. In fact, they said it was the worst idea ever. However the couch became quite handy later in the movie, and it even saved our heroes lives. While the minifig characters weren’t that impressed with this unusual contraption, the double-decker couch was an instant hit with moviegoers. I have seen many examples of people attempting to build a real-life double-decker couch for themselves and their buddies, so they can all watch TV together. Of course the issue is that humans have long dangling legs and smelly feet – something minifigs don’t have to worry about. Emmet’s double-decker couch initially only appeared in the #70810 The LEGO Movie MetalBeard’s Sea Cow set. This is the largest set in the series with a steep price of $250. This disappointed LEGO fans who wanted to have their own double-decker couch, so this year LEGO re-released the same double-decker couch in the #70818 The LEGO Movie Double-Decker Couch set – a small and inexpensive set that includes the double-decker couch, Emmet’s little car, and five minifigures; B
enny (who previously only appeared in the #70816 Benny’s Spaceship, Spaceship, SPACESHIP! set), Unikitty with two different facial expressions (Unikitty collectors were extremely happy about this), Emmet, Ghost Vitruvius (unique to this set), and President Business. As you can see, this set is all about pleasing LEGO fans and give them what they asked for, so thank you, LEGO! I recently got The LEGO Movie Double-Decker Couch set, and although I’m very happy with it, I felt that the design for the couch could have been improved. What bothered me particularly is that the ladders somewhat flair out to the sides, and they also easily fall over as they are not clipped in at the top. I also didn’t like how the ends of the couch were constructed; in general I lake sideways building techniques but I felt that here the construction was a bit too messy and too clever for its own good. So I set out to fix my double-decker couch and come up with a better version. I started out by looking at images of the double-decker couch from The LEGO Movie itself. I
wanted to see what were the differences between the movie version and the LEGO set version, and if I could incorporate some of those features. I found a very interesting comparison at the LEGO Answers forum on StackExchange. Member HaydenStudios recreated both versions of the couch in LDD (LEGO Digital Designer) and posted comparison pictures. In the picture below the LEGO set version of the couch is on your left, and the movie version is on your right (images by HaydenStudios). You will notice several differences right away. The LEGO set version of the couch has studs on some of the seat-cushions so minifigs can be attached without falling off (1). Also the movie version has two layers of blue plates on the seats, whereas the LEGO set version has only one. In the movie there are storage compartments under the seats that our heroes used as hiding places when the submarine got destroyed. The armrests are also different both on the top and the bottom level of the couch. Also the armrest in the LEGO set incorporates the attachment to the ladder, whereas in the movie version the ladder is attached differently (2). T
he ladders in the LEGO set version are higher up than in the movie version, and also note that in both version the ladder is not attached at the top (3). There are round 1×1 studs placed on the bottom of the upper level of the movie version, but none are found on the LEGO set version (4). I particularly like this feature because it truly looks like two full couches were placed on top of each other, so I was planning to use this feature in mine. 😀 In the second picture you can see both versions of the couch from the back. This time the LEGO set version is on your right, and the movie version is on your left. In the LEGO set version the back rest have more layers of plates, which ensures that the construction of the set is sturdy (5). The 1×2 plates with bars in the LEGO set version are used to connect the backrests with their corresponding seats, whereas in the movie version they are not connected to anything (6). HaydenStudios mentions that because of this the seats on the upper level are simply suspended in midair, and the backrests of the lower level are just sitting there with nothing attaching them to the seats. Th
is is why replicating the movie version 100% and keeping it together is physically impossible. Another difference is that in the LEGO set version the two levels are connected by LEGO Technic tubes which connect to 2×2 plates with holes. The two levels of the movie version are connected by long cylindrical columns, with minifig neck-brackets attaching them at the top (7). As you can see, there are quite a few differences between the two versions of the double-decker couch, and you can play with those features to make your own. For my version I decided to get inspiration from both designs and also include my own ideas. Some of the main differences are that I straightened the ladders and clipped them in on top, and also rebuilt the sides of both levels of the couch in an upright position. I feel that this is a simpler and cleaner design. While right now I’m using dark-gray clips for the cups I’m planning to replace them with light-blue ones to match the rest of the couch. Also, the 1×2 plates with bars used for attaching the ladders at the bottom are available in light-blue and I’m planning to replace them also. Th
is way the sides of the couch are a uniform blue. I did some modification at the back as well, but it is quite minor. I have been keeping the double-decker couch on my desk and have been doodling with it whenever I take a break. I’m happy with my current version, and this was a fun little project to work on. If you don’t have the double-decker couch yet, I highly recommend getting it. It is really fun, includes a whole array of great minifigs, and it is only $15. You can get it directly under The LEGO Movie section of the Online LEGO Shop. So what do you think? How do you like the double-decker couch? Have you considered building a real-life version? Or did you at least build one out of LEGO yet? Did you make any changes yourself? Feel free to share your thoughts, and own ideas about the ultimate double-decker couch in the comment section below! 😉 And you might also like to check out the following related posts:The idea of making a movie out of LEGO toys sounds stupid on paper.
Though you have no narrative you’re stuck to (which is both good and bad), the film’s existence seems based on shilling a product. That Phil Lord and Chris Miller were able to transcend that and deliver a movie with heart and great jokes is nothing short of a miracle. The LEGO Movie is not only excellent, it could very well be an all-time great movie. My review of the 3D Blu-ray of The LEGO Movie follows after the jump. The film begins with Lord Business (Will Ferrell) on the hunt for the Kragle, which he needs for his nefarious schemes. The wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) is unable to protect it, but issues a prophecy that a master builder (those who are great at making LEGO creations) will come and defeat Business using the piece of resistance. But who could that be? We’re then introduced to Emmett (Chris Pratt) who leads a very normal, boring life. He works in construction and always follows the rules. But his life is upended when he sees Wild Style (Elizabeth Banks) and falls into a hole which leads to the piece of resistance getting stuck to his back.
He’s then arrested by Good Cop/Bad Cop (Liam Neeson) and proves to be totally ignorant, but he’s rescued by Wild Style and is taken to meet Vitruvius, where he is to study the ways of master building. Unfortunately, Emmett’s a blank who can only think of making a double decker couch. Business is hot on their trail, but are helped by many other Master Builders, like Batman (Will Arnett) Princess Unikitty (Alison Brie), Superman (Channing Tatum), Green Lantern (Jonah Hill) and the “80’s-something space guy” named Benny (Charlie Day). Emmett is unable to impress them as the chosen one, but he eventually comes up with a plan that could fool Business and allow them to stop the Kragle, which will be used to freeze everyone in LEGO land permanently. The other master builders are so set on doing things in a unique way, they don’t realize the best way to get one past the evil Business is to follow the blueprint. In that, Lord and Miller have come up with a great metaphor for filmmaking.
It’s not that the others aren’t great artists, but there’s a great art in smuggling, in putting interesting ideas and work inside a formula, and in that they’re celebrating some of the great Hollywood filmmakers. It’s also what they’re doing here, and doing so brilliantly. It’s also amazing that they’re able to disassemble Campbellian myth archetypes by having a chosen one who turns out to be the right person in a way that suggests “destiny” is a hackneyed concept. There’s enough going on under the surface of the film to make the film worth studying, but none of that would work if the film wasn’t entertaining. And thankfully, it is. Moving at a brisk hundred minutes, the film is chocked full of jokes and gags that benefit from repeated viewings (there you can focus on the background, like the posters in Emmett’s room), while the core story is so engaging that parents may not mind if their children want to watch it over and over and over (and over).
After four feature films, Lord and Miller have proved themselves to be great directors of comedy, but also master storytellers and two of the smartest and most interesting filmmakers working today. Warner Brothers presents The LEGO Movie in widescreen (2:35:1) and in DTS-HD 5.1 Master audio in both 2D and 3D. As this is one of my favorite 3D films to watch, it’s good to note that both presentations are stellar and deserve all the superlatives. The film also comes with a DVD and digital copy. The film comes with a fun but scattered commentary track by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and stars Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks (via skype), Alison Brie, Charlie Day, and Chris Pratt. With that many players they can get caught up explaining what’s going on in the movie to those not in the room, but it’s a good listen, and everyone seems to think highly of the project. The first supplement is “Batman’s a True Artist” (1 min.) which is the music video for his song from the film.
It’s followed by “Michelangelo and Lincoln: History Cops” (1 min.), which does a grindhouse version of a buddy cop movie for the LEGO characters. “Enter the Ninjago” (2 min.) sets up a different version of the film starring a lego ninja. Then there’s an actual behind the scenes piece “Bringing LEGO to Life” (13 min.) which gives a goofy look behind the scenes. It’s followed by an “Everything is Awesome” sing-a-long, and it’s followed by the section “See It, Build It!” (13 min.), which shows you how to build the double decker couch, and Emmet’s car both in practical terms and in CG. It’s followed by “Stories from the Story Team” (4 min.), which presents some of the film’s storyboards. It’s followed by the top fan-man films (4 min.), which is introduced by Chris Pratt. Then there’s the film’s outtakes (3 min.), promos made specifically for the film (4 min.), an Alleyway animation test (1 min.), two deleted scenes (3 min.), and the more LEGO-promy “Dream Job: Meet the LEGO Builders” (13 min.), which focuses on the people LEGO has hired to create things.