The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

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SPOILER-FREE REVIEW

     The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part follows 2014’s smash-hit, The Lego Movie, and it serves as the fourth installment in the overall Lego Cinematic Universe (which includes The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie, both released in 2017). The Second Part brings back Emmet (Chris Pratt) and Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) on a new mission of titanic importance: to thwart the mysterious plans of General Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) and her shadowy leader before they unleash chaos on the Lego realms. The movie’s voice cast includes Will Arnett, Tiffany Haddish, and many, many others.

     The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part has big shoes to fill, because as basically everyone remembers, the first Lego Movie is an absolute, unqualified delight. But thankfully, The Second Part still manages to be pretty dang great. Not as great, maybe, but still great.

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     Let’s start with the cons. What separates The Second Part from the original? The humor and the story aren’t quite as sound. Not every joke lands, especially in the first third of the movie, and the story doesn’t operate with the same efficiency. And the product placement—which, let’s be real, that’s ultimately what this is all about—feels a bit more in-your-face this time around. Heard of Lego’s Duplo line of toys? If you hadn’t before, you will now.

     But The Second Part doesn’t let any of that get it down. Flat jokes aside, there are still more laugh-out-loud moments than you’d get in your typical animated kids movie, especially for the adults. The animation and screenplay display the same cleverness and wit that keep the Lego franchise/brand feeling distinctive and surprising with each installment, well after the novelty has worn off.

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     Even the movie’s moral lesson delivers in much the same way the first Lego Movie did. Where the original centered around a boy’s relationship with his father, this one explores that boy’s relationship with his sister. Along the way, it picks up ideas about learning to cooperate, learning what it means to grow up, and learning to let go of anger. It might not be particularly subtle, but it’s solid, fresh, and meaningful for the under-10 crowd and their parents, too.

     FINAL VERDICT: The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part keeps the Lego franchise’s hot streak alive with another *awesome* entry.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is rated PG for some rude humor.

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