The LEGO Movie 70801: The Melting Room Review

What better way to start off a new year than with new sets from the LEGO Movie? Today we'll be looking at one of the two smallest sets in the line:

Melting Room (70801)
122 pieces
SRP: $12.99 USD

This set comes in a fairly small box. On the front we see a photoshopped picture of the set with Wyldstyle kicking over a poor Robot SWAT guard. The box's back is adorned with another picture of the set and showcases some of the play features.

When we open the set, we get a 35-page instruction manual and 122 pieces. I won't go over the booklet, but some interesting pieces (excluding minifigures) include:

• Two shorter chain pieces
• A black triangular piece from the Cars line
• A clear disk piece
• A new "pipe" piece
• Two printed plates
• A white piece that holds a minifigures' legs without studs. This originated in the Friends line. 

 Now, the main draw of the set: the minifigures! We get Emmet, Wyldstyle, and a Robo SWAT.

The Special has arisen.

Emmet is the exact same minifigure as you'll get in most of the LEGO Movie sets. He has a new hairpiece with two tufts of hair in the back. He has nice printing on his torso and legs as well as decent back printing.

A mouthful of hair

Emmet has two expressions: a scared print and a determined one. However, if you want to use the determined side, be aware that the hair piece does not cover the scared face on the back completely. 

Emmet also comes with the Piece of Resistance, which is a new piece in red that can attach to his back. I'm not a fan the neck piece, and it makes his neck seem too long. In fact, the trailers show Emmet without the grey piece and the Piece of Resistance glued to his back. 

This version of Wyldstyle is exclusive to this set because of the new hood piece. It is slightly rubbery and comes in a separate little baggy.

There isn't much reuse potential with the hood because Wyldstyle's hair is painted on and it features side printing that is pretty much exclusive to Wyldstyle. Wyldstyle has some nice printing as well, and even has arm and foot printing! 

Yes, this is a different expression

She has two expressions, one normal and one slightly more determined. 

The final figure is the Robo SWAT. He has a nice cap with a printed logo on it, which may be exclusive to this set. 

His head is shared with some of the other Robo SWAT figures, but he has cool torso printing that can be reused for police minifigures if desired. He has a gun with a clip from the Dino line, but it looks empty without anything in the clip. All in all, the minifigures are great, but may be redundant if you plan to buy some of the larger sets in the line. 

While some may buy the set solely for the minifigures, it also has a small playset build of the Melting Room (or Chamber). The build didn't take very long, but it had some interesting techniques for the table that Emmet is chained to. The set consists of three main parts: The weapons rack with handcuffs and an axe, the rotating table, and the Melting Laser. The play set has some pretty cool features for a small set.

This play feature is GEARED towards kids. I'm terrible, I know. 

 If you turn the gear on the bottom, you can move the table up and down. Emmet will stay securely thanks to the chains and the leg-holding piece. 

The laser (which I assume is to melt off the Piece of Resistance) is on a pin, so it can swivel back and forth. It can also hinge forward and backwards due to its construction. While the playset is drab in its colorscheme, it is very versatile. It can be an Extremis testing facility, Oscorp's lab, or even Lex Luthor's Krytonite laser (if you replace the red bar with a green one). The possibilities are endless!

In conclusion, the Melting Room is a good set. If you plan on buying the other sets in the line, then you can probably pass. But if you want hooded Wylstyle or simply a taste of the new LEGO Movie line, you won't be disappointed by this little one.