The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Review

Patiently waiting for Mega Bloks to launch their rival movie franchise.

 

The Lego Movie arrived way back in 2014. Many people, including myself, wrote the film off before we even seen it. A movie about Lego? Impossible. Hollywood had clearly hit a low point. The greed had finally taken over and we were going to receive essentially an ad disguised as a movie. To the shock of everyone. The Lego Movie was great! It was filled with gags that left me in stitches. It had likeable original characters who were powered by A-Listers giving it their all. It had quotes which I still ramble off regularly; “Look at Randy here, he likes sausage. That’s something.”.  In a year which had Nightcrawler, Guardians 1, Birdman and Edge of Tomorrow. The Lego Movie ended up being the film which I’ve come back to the most since 2014. There’s just something about Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s film that hits me every time. In the 5 years that have passed since its release a lot has happened. Lord and Miller have made one of the best sequels ever in 22 Jump Street, were fired from Solo and gave one of the 2018's strongest films with Spider-Verse. The Lego film franchise has delivered 2 films since. The Lego Batman Movie was better than any of Affleck’s attempts. While The Lego Ninjago Movie was dismissed by fans and critics, I thought it was fine for the record. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part arrives with a little bit of pressure on it. The franchise needs a boost following Ninjago’s underwhelming performance. While fans of the first film don’t want the characters, they loved to be tarnished. Is The Lego Movie 2 well-constructed? Or does this tower crumble?

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part takes place 5 years after the events of Taco Tuesday. The colourful world has now become a Mad Max like apocalyptic wasteland. To add to their misery. The Lego Duplo Invaders have taken Lucy (Elizabeth Banks) to outer space. It’s up to Emmet (Chris Pratt) to step up and as he puts it “save Lucy and all the other people that were captured.”. The worry heading into this was the same as any sequel. Will it be able to stand alongside the first film? The Lego Movie 2 answers that question with a resounding yes. While not as perfectly crafted as its procedure. Yet there is much to be adored from this sequel. The jokes nearly all land, one pun based named had me roaring in the cinema. It’s an intelligent film thanks to Lord and Miller’s razor-sharp script. The lessons that it teaches its younger audience are valuable and needed in the homes across the world. This movie could have easily gone for more of the same. Instead it attempts an ambitious story which delivers more than it has any right to. This is in large parts thanks to Chris Pratt.

Chris Pratt has become a household name following the release of the last film. The guy is now a A-Lister. He did have two movies cross a billion dollars at the box office last year after all. One would fear that this fame might lead him to take his foot off the gas with his performance as Emmet. This is not the case. Pratt bring the same lovable quirks, innocence and laughter to his role of the special one. Emmet in the film thinks in order to save his friends he needs to become tough. Pratt is clearly invested in the character; he makes this journey a joy to watch. Not only has he nailed his role once again, but this time he’s on double duty. Pratt also plays the wonderfully named Rex Dangervest. Rex is Emmet’s life coach who helps him on his road to becoming a tougher leader. Pratt brings Dangervest to life by giving a voice which is up there with Kurt Russel’s action voice. Danervest is a representation of Pratt’s action career since the first film. There’s a wonderful gag about all the different boxes he ticks. He’s an archaeologist, raptor trainer and even a social media influencer. The most entertaining sequences of the film come when Pratt is bouncing off himself. The film uses Emmet and Dangervests friendship to show the dangers of toxic masculinity. Sure, it’s great to be an action star. Yet, sometimes the world needs the lovable Andy Dwyer.

The supporting cast for the most part is on fine form. Elizabeth Banks doesn’t have as much to do this time around as Lucy. Anytime see in on screen she takes advantage. Lucy is still as funny this time around as she gets to grips with the new location that surrounds her. Batman (Will Arnett) is as good as you expect. Arnett emphasises his claim for best onscreen Batman with a song that tackles the hero’s cinematic journey thus far. My main gripe with the film is that the supporting cast from the first film are wasted here. Benji (Charlie Day) and Unikitty (Allison Brie) are given nothing to do which is a shame considering how great they were in the first one. Metalbeard is played by Nick Offerman again but I spent the whole film trying to figure out if the actor had changed. Offerman plays the pirate with a higher pitch this time. Maybe he’s not able to give the pirate his gravelly voice anymore. Maybe I’m crazy but it did bother me. The new characters do a great job at bringing the laughs. Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz plays General Mayhem; a role which allows Beatriz to use her Rosa voice and real voice to great effect. Richard Ayoade gives the performance of his career as an ice cream cone (seriously). The star of the show is Tiffany Haddish as Queen Watever Wa’Nabi. The chameleon queen can shape shift which allows Haddish to flex her comedic muscles. If you take one thing from the film, it’s that Haddish needs to sign a record deal. The decision to put less focus on the original support makes sense. Do the new characters make that decision worthwhile? Sadly, I don’t think so.  The characters from the first film all had heart. While the new ones are funny. They just don’t bring the emotion of the previous film.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller aren’t on directing duties this time. Bogged down by a crazy number of projects. The directors are just on writing and producing duties. Their script is wonderful. Crammed with jokes for all generations. I’m surprised they managed to get away with some jokes which use innuendo to is maximum potential. The call-backs to the first film are delightful. The random fictional and real-life Lego figures who appear for gags are some of the best parts of these films. No spoilers here, but there is a famous actor who plays himself which blew me away. Mike Mitchell is on directing duties this time around. The guy has had a mixed bag of a career up to now. Mitchell’s CV boasts Sky High, Shrek Forever After and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked amongst others. Mitchell work to date has been mixed to say the least. Hired off the success of Trolls he delivers his best film to date. The directing in the animated sequences are solid. Mitchell doesn’t take any major risks. He doesn’t have to! The live action scenes of the first film were astonishing. It took everyone off guard and delivered a poignant story about family. This time around the message is still strong. The execution is not. Mitchell attempts to pull off a joke about standing on Lego which falls flat out on its face. It’s bad guys. All in all, considering who he to live up to Mitchell did a good job. If there’s a third entry to this series than I don’t see why he couldn’t direct again. If we could get Lord and Miller back that would still be much appreciated.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is a charming follow up to one of my favourite animations. While it just misses the heights of the previous film. This is a splendid 90 minutes of family fun. There truly is something here for everyone.  The message of being yourself no matter what is one that kids need. There ongoing pressure in today's world for kids to be something they’re not in order to be popular. The film perfectly showcases that there is no fun to be had in that. Be yourself and good things will come to you. The Lego Movies are unlike any other series in the world. Does that mean it tones down its weirdness in order to fit in? Absolutely not. These films are as odd as they come. I wouldn’t have them any other way.

Liam’s Summery of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.

Best Moment: A gag from Abe Lincoln gave me laughter pains.

Worst Moment: We get it. Standing on Lego is painful. So is this joke.

Best Character: Rex Dangervest on name alone.

Worst Character: This live action cameo falls flat.

Watch This if You Liked.

The Lego Movie: Any film with a Milhouse cameo has me rooting for it.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Pratt’s singalong is his best moment to date.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Any excuse to watch this one really.

Overall Rating: 4/5