YES! They were all so wooden. Honestly, I would pay for a prequel remake if JJ Abrams was allowed to remake it. The CGI was too busy and so distracting. I think Lucas was probably just pushing the technological envelope at the expense of his characters. There was really no easy flow.
I haven't seen the Lego movies, but I adore Finding Nemo. And if you can find it, your kids might really enjoy The Iron Giant.