Review: 70823 Emmet's Thricycle
Posted by CapnRex101,
Emmet formulated some unconvincing building ideas during The LEGO Movie and that tendency continues during The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. 70823 Emmet's Thricycle looks particularly outlandish, consisting of three black tyres which are arranged vertically beneath the driver.
This bizarre vehicle really appeals to me and the set contains 174 pieces, among which is a brand new tyre that was created for 2019. Its price of £12.99 or $14.99 therefore seems reasonable and I love the colourful DUPLO character opposing Emmet as well as the Octan petrol pump.
Minifigure
Numerous sets from The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part include Emmet, as one might expect given his popularity and significant role in the film. The reddish brown hair piece was created for the previous movie and remains intact but the double-sided head is new, featuring a broad smile on one side and an intensely frightened expression on the other.
Emmet's orange construction uniform has also been updated as the metallic silver reflective strips now include some wear around the edges. I like these designs and the identification card on the minifigure's thigh looks marvellous. As usual, Emmet is accompanied by Planty and this small model is simplified in relation to the film as no leaves are visible.
The Completed Model
Emmet's unconventional Thricycle is a substantial vehicle, measuring 16cm in height. Its predominantly yellow colour scheme seems suitable given Emmet's association with construction equipment and I like how hazard stripes have been incorporated, suggesting that some standard construction vehicles were disassembled to build this one and reminding me of 70814 Emmet's Construct-o-Mech.
The vehicle stands on a single tyre so is unstable, although you can attach it to a stand which is useful for display. Furthermore, two Technic beams form kickstands which provide support to the model when the Thricycle is detached from its stand, as demonstrated below. This design is effective but I think the model looks more appealing when standing completely upright rather than being tilted backwards.
Each tyre is situated between a couple of Technic elements so they rest against one another. Rotating the lowest wheel will therefore cause the others to turn as well. This is an enjoyable function and I love these new tyres which seem extremely versatile. However, you can only grip the model from above the wheels and that does not feel entirely natural to me.
Emmet stands above the stacked wheels so appears rather precarious, although that seems suitable for such an odd vehicle! In addition, there is space for Planty behind the driver and a dark bluish grey ice cream cone, which is only available in three sets, forms the exhaust. The yellow ball cup elements on either side look slightly odd but further suggest that Emmet's Thricycle has been hastily constructed and they are new in this colour.
The stand is designed to form part of the Apocalypseburg landscape and I think it looks good, featuring a dark bluish grey rock with attachment points for the Thricycle at its centre. A fuel pump stands on one side and its retro design looks marvellous, resembling the pump found in 10264 Corner Garage. This is decorated with some Octan branding and the fuel hose is detachable, although a longer hose would be required to reach the Thricycle's tank!
A catapult is attached on the other side and launches a light bluish grey wheel hub which is surprisingly effective, consistently achieving a range of more than 50cm. Unfortunately, the DUPLO aliens are apparently impervious to such attacks!
Aliens arrived from the planet DUPLO towards the end of The LEGO Movie and they have returned for the sequel. These blocky creatures are available in three new sets and each version features a unique colour scheme. I like this red and orange design and the opening mouth looks superb, exposing a pair of brick-built studs inside. Moreover, you can rotate the printed eye using a Technic pin on the back of the model.
Overall
70823 Emmet's Thricycle is an enjoyable set, albeit one which does not necessarily stand out across the entire theme. The vehicle is delightfully unconventional and I appreciate the rolling function which connects the tyres. Furthermore, the Octan petrol pump is attractive and its retro design represents a pleasing change from similar previous models.
Emmet is extremely common across the range, corresponding with his relative popularity and central role within the movie. Nevertheless, another resident of Apocalypseburg would have been a welcome addition. I would recommend adding this set to your collection but think that 70822 Unikitty's Sweetest Friends EVER! and 70841 Benny's Space Squad are even more impressive.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by Warner Bros. but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
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32 comments on this article
I rely like the gas pump, but the build it’s self is just plain ridiculous!
So excited about the movie! Thanks CapnRex for a great review, I think I will be asking for this for an upcoming present. I love the ridiculous nature of the Thricycle! Besides, isn't that what LEGO is all about? :)
That's some movie spoiler there...
I've been eyeing this set and despite it's ridiculous nature, and little useful (to me) parts, it keeps tugging at me. I'll probably end up with one, use the tires on something else and convert the top section to a 'hover cycle'. Love the decomposing Octan tank! I agree with @CapnRex that there should be another figure, as Emmet is ubiquitous throughout the range.
@Mr Classic
You do know this vehicle was shown in the very first trailer right? So I don't see how anything in this set is a spoiler
I’m going to see the movie tonight! So excited!! And afterwards will probably go out and have to get all the sets!
“Why do you have to make so many good sets, Lego?? Why oh why?”
—My wallet.
Ugh. 3 tires. My OCD will make me buy 2 of them.
@kinto brought to you by the 10 hot dogs/12 buns conspiracy!
@ra226 I'm more familiar with the 10 hot dogs/8 buns conspiracy.
@Your future president:
I know, I know....there is just such a large number of good sets that TLG makes, and even though this might sound embarrassing, TBH, I’m still trying to track down amazing sets and polybags I never got from 2016, 2017, and 2018....
Great to hear so many of you guys are getting to see TLM2, unfortunately I don’t think any theaters near me are showing it yet, but I’ll have to check the schedule, as a I desperately want to see it!
I thought most of the TLM2 sets looked great from the start, but I think I will like them even more when I found out how they fit into the movie!
Its kind of cool but not tbe best of the lego movie sets from either film,
If anyone is interested instagram had pics of some of the summer sets earlier and sweet mayhem's ship comes in two other colours but same design of build..
I was pleasantly surprised by how satisfying it is to roll this thing around and having all three wheels spin around. It's such a simple thing, it's just gravity really, but it just looks so nice. I think kids'll love this one.
What if tbe Garage was destroyed on the movie is the actual Lego set?
@ra226... HAHAHAHAHA!
@legoavenger14: Those aren't the summer sets. Those are concept models on display at the Lego House as part of their Lego Movie 2 exhibition. There are a few slightly spoiler-ish figure designs and scenes that may likely become sets, but those variations on Sweet Mayhem's starship aren't among them—they do not appear in the movie and are most likely concepts from before the designers and filmmakers had settled on the aesthetic and color scheme of the Systar System's technology.
Well... interesting vehicle.... but somehow the set feels boring. I mean there's nothing that makes this standout as something amazing
@Lyichir: I saw that updated green spaceman in a picture of a classic space themed apocalypse vehicle...I’m sure the vehicle was just a concept design, but I’m really hoping we see that green spaceman in a set :D
Obviously this set is this movie's version of the Double Decker Couch, Emmet's great idea from the last movie.
@DecR504.. There were 2 green classic space men in the Ideas Exo Suit a few years back.. 21109
I don’t like that the new tyres are cored from one side. I mean, I can understand from a manufacturing point of view but, for example in this model, symmetrical tyres would’ve looked much better!
Tall rolly beans b rollin.
I think it's too bad the Duplo blocks aren't really Duplo blocks.
Strange set with parts of little use (to me). But couldn't they at least add one more tire so that we end up having 4???
@kinto also those green space figures were not quite classic.... they had the modern helmets with visors. Proper classic space minifigures in green would be awesome! I've already bought like five of Benny's space squad, planning some kind of Mars base MOC at some point, so some additional troops would be sweet.
Loved the movie, and I’m really excited for the Systar System summer sets. I like the Thricycle because it’s so ridiculous and I hope we get some more of Emmet’s crazy stacked creations in the next wave!
If you’re buying over €35 of LEGO Movie 2 sets online, you will receive Rex’s Plantimal Ambush polybag. :)
My sons favorite part of this set is the Duplo monster build. As outlandish as this set is to an AFOL, it provides a good amount of play time for younger kids.
Neat set! It definitely feels suited to Emmet. Like the Construct-O-Mech, it features clear construction equipment motifs, and like the double-decker couch, it's more silly than it is practical.
The weathered Octan gas pump is lovely and together with the stand/parking space helps to communicate the wasteland environment this vehicle is meant to appear in. The Duplo invader is cute, although I have mixed feelings about it having the exact same shape and play features as the ones in 70827-1 and 30527-1… the otherwise fairly analogous Micro-Managers from the first movie's sets were a lot more varied in their play features. It's nice that it has a different color, though, and that the appearance of this style of invader in so many sets helps to justify giving them their own printed eye tile rather than more set-specific stickers.
Kind of leaning towards skipping this set in my own collection, since I feel like I will have plenty of other opportunities to get Emmet and the Duplo invaders, and the play features of the set as a whole don't feel all that outstanding. But I can definitely imagine kids having lots of fun rolling this goofy contraption around, and it complements the Ultrakatty set nicely for buyers who want to stick to sets at more affordable price points than some of the others that Emmet and Lucy appear in.
I really hate and don't understand why we can't have real Duplos in these sets. In the past Lego has included electronics, rubber, cloth, and string in sets. Even real metal axles in train sets. In the Lego Movie 2 sets we have minifigs and minidolls mixed together, and even in one set a real goddamn sticker roll. Yet Lego can't put Duplos in. It's even more sad because Lego and Duplo bricks both fit together and this would've been a great opportunity to make the general consumer aware of the fact. Seems like an awful business choice to me.
Yeah, that’s why I said ‘updated’ green classic spacemen. I know about the Exo Suit, pretty sure every fan of CS does. I want green classic spacemen with the new helmet mold from Benny’s Space Squad.
You see it in the teaser trailer for about five seconds
@Aanchir:
The Duplo chomper from the polybag is actually different, but not in a good way. Where this has a rotating eye, the polybag version has an eye that's attached to a 1x2 brick w/ studs on the side. It can rotate by right angles only. The teeth are also half as tall because they didn't put 1x1 round plates on the double jumpers before adding the round tiles (though that's easily fixed). I haven't built the two from this set and Ultrakitty, so I don't know if they're identical or not, but I know from reviews that they're definitely different than the polybag version.
@Norikins:
They do for the Duplo set (though it's a bit odd that they did Duplo Emmet and Wyldstyle, since they never appear in Duplo form in the movie). The problem with doing Duplo parts in regular sets is they can't build play features into them the way they can by faking Duplo with LEGO parts. The actual Duplo set does have some of the giant Duplo monsters, but since they're built with actual Duplo bricks they're pretty static in their design. For Ultrakitty, the Thricycle, and the Wyldstyle polybag, they made Duplo monsters that have chomping mouths, which only works because they're made of 30-40 LEGO parts instead of two Duplo bricks.