The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) Review

Our favorite LEGO characters return in the aptly titled "second part" of The LEGO Movie. It picks up where the first one left off where these unusual beings from the planet DUPLO lay waste to Bricksburg turning it into a Mad Max wasteland. Everyone such as Wyldstyle/Lucy has become bitter while Emmet remains a naive optimist, kinda like me. Just then, a newcomer named General Mayhem kidnaps Lucy and others, so Emmet goes on a rescue mission. Along the way, he encounters this action-loving, thrill-seeking man named Rex Dangervest, who's also voiced by Chris Pratt, in a satire of his status as an action movie star.

I've found the first LEGO movie to be a surprising and clever flick that was better than it had any right to be, thanks to Phil Lord and Christopher Miller who are proving to be a very creative duo. And while they're credited as the screenwriters to the sequel, they have Mike Mitchell as the director whose directing credits include Shrek Forever After, Trolls, and Alvin in the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. Oh, boy. Still, this film turned out better than the others I've mentioned, but it's not as strong as the first film. While the animation was noteworthy with its speed and creativity, the jokes don't hit the mark as well. I got some chuckles out of some of the jokes, but no laugh out loud moments. It was still good to see all the characters back, and even the new ones are enjoyable from Tiffany Haddish as Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi who has a musical number to emphasize how not sinister she is, and especially Rex Dangervest. There's a good reason why he and Emmet share the same voice actor later on in the film. Another small issue is the live-action segments which are scattered throughout. They have a good reason for existing, however, the first one kept it a secret until the end and here in the sequel, it doesn't feel quite as surprising, but it's still heartfelt and I like the direction it took. It's just a little too obvious.

There is some fun to be had with the sequel; it's just not as tightly structured as the first movie. Then again, playing with LEGOs don't have anything to do with structures or following rules. You make your own fun. And that's what I assume this is what peoples' experience with The Second Part would be. Kids will most certainly be entertained and adults would get a kick out of the references.

RATING: MODEST APPROVAL (B)