LEGO Ideas Jaws 21350 Set Review

The new LEGO Ideas ‘Jaws’ set is bound to make a splash with fans, bringing the Orca ship and iconic shark into brick-built form. It’s a set that can be displayed in one of two ways, the ship and shark separately, or there is a framed seaframe. Fans of the franchise will be happy to have the most memorable aspects commemorated in brick form ahead of the 50th anniversary for ‘Jaws’, though there are some aspects that hold the set back and make it hard to recommend as an instant purchase. LEGO provided this set for review. 

To start with the key information, the set is 1,497 pieces, and comes with 3 minifigures, Martin Brody, Matt Hooper and Sam Quint. They all come with accessories, Martin Brody comes with a pistol and binoculars, Matt Hooper coems with a camera and a small briefcase, and Sam Quint comes with a harpoon gun and a machete. The height of the set is 35cm/14 inches, with a width of 20cm/8 inches, and a depth of 59cm/24 inches. This measurement refers to the set when the shark and Orca are positioned on the seaboard. 

The set didn’t originate with LEGO, it was first conceived by LEGO fan Johnny Campbell, via the LEGO Ideas community platform. This does explain some of the set’s shortcomings, as the polish the LEGO sets traditionally have is missing, which will be gone into detail shortly. The set will cost €149.99, £129.99, or $149.99, which is not bad, especially with the exclusive figures and the minimal stickers. Indeed, the plaque pieces are all printed, along with Brody’s famous quote, and Orca, the name of the boat. It releases for LEGO Insiders on August 3, and for everyone else on August 6.

The Orca is built in two halves, one with a more traditional style with bricks on top of each other, but the first half of the boat is actually built upside-down to help achieve the angular profile. While it’s an ambitious brick-building technique, it’s one that falls apart in execution, quite literally. There’s a part deep inside that’s only attached by one stud, and it continually falls off when other pieces are added. It doesn’t cause structural failure, but the piece does rattle around inside, which requires the builder to take a large chunk of bricks off to fix. It’s frustrating when it happens, and even more so when it occurs repeatedly.  

This is likely been part of the fan-submitted design, which LEGO hasn’t hugely altered. While that’s admirable in some respects, it does mean that the set isn’t as polished as sets that have originated from the LEGO brand directly. This dip in quality is unfortunte, especially as the set isn’t cheap by any means. 

What LEGO have done though, is add plenty of details to the Orca, in some ways going overboard. The roof comes off to reveal a cramped inner cabin, quite literally full to the brim with a touches like a copy of the Amity Gazette, a sofa, map, compass, a clock and a steering mechanism. Two of the three minifigures can just fit in, but it’s a tight squeeze that could have been avoided with some restraint. The third could have joined then too.  

Outside the boat, there is a similar level of detail, like a lifejacket, harpoons, yellow barrels and even more. Though some pieces like the cage bars aren’t attached to the boat, and the chair at the back can swivel, but doesn’t have studs to allow the builder to put a minifigure on it. The mast has a chain and ropes attached, but it’s extremely difficult when tying them to not get the tension level wrong, else the technic mast might bend. It’s a minor issue, but just another one. LEGO went overboard here too. 

The shark is by far the best built and the most fun aspect of the set. It’s a very sizeable build on its own, with great details like the eyes, the mouth, the fins that can be rotated. It’s entirely brickbuilt, with no technic. Upside-down building techniques return, but this time firmer and more stable. The front half of the shark detaches to be able to be put on the seaboard, but fans will more than likely want to keep it whole on its own display. It features a plaque, and the stand has places for all three characters to feature. 

Of course, there is the ability to detach the shark and add it to the seaboard. The Orca can also be added to recreate the famous scene where the shark attacks the boat. The board is basic in its design, using a mix of whites and blues to create the illusion of waves. There are yellow barrels dotted about, including one inside the shark’s stomach, referencing the film. As far of as the build is concerned, one critical aspect is the fact that the Orca isn’t attached to the seaboard, which means moving it can be risky, and if the set is knocked, the Orca might fall off. 

While the set is by no means terrible, indeed the shark is a brilliant build and a great display piece, there are several imperfections in the set, both minor and more major. Fans of ‘Jaws’ will no doubt love that their beloved franchise is now represented in LEGO form, but to those who don’t love the film or would be frustrated by the imperfections, it’s one that can be missed.