The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is a 2019 animated film set five years after the first installment with our heroes having to go against alien invaders from the Systar System.
After The Lego Movie’s critical and financial success, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have been really eager to make another film set in this imaginative world. This time around, it’s directed by Mike Mitchell, but it’s still written and produced by Lord and Miller, so it’s in good hands. Being a direct sequel to the original movie, The LEGO Movie : The Second Part is kind of what you would expect if you have seen the first one. It’s still an entertaining and hilarious animated flick even if it’s not as great as The Lego Movie. Admittedly, it’s rare for a sequel to be as good as the previous installment, but this is still a fun film for families to enjoy.
If you remember the ending of the first movie, the Duplo alien army has invaded the city of Bricksburg. Eventually, they have turned it into a wasteland called Apocalypseburg, and the citizens are rebuilding their civilization. Five years later, another invasion happens, and General Sweet Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) has kidnapped some people in order to bring them to her leader Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish) from the Systar System. Our likeable main protagonist Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) is now on a mission to save his friends, and that’s pretty much the ridiculous premise in a nutshell. You know you’re not supposed to take it seriously, because it’s a movie with Lego figures interacting with each other.
Like the first film, the animation is still really impressive! It’s just fascinating to see this world built entirely in Legos, and you can’t help but praise the animators for their hard work. The filmmakers also find new and creative ways to incorporate new Lego brands in the movie, and it’s quite clever and hysterical. Once again, the script is absolutely funny, and it’s filled with pop culture references and hilarious dialogue for the audience to have a good time with. Whenever you’re laughing at all the jokes, it just shows that Lord and Miller are incredibly talented screenwriters with their fun and witty humor. Even if it has a lot of humorous scenes, it also has some strong and heartfelt moments, and there’s a sweet message about being with your family.
While the screenplay and humor are really entertaining, the narrative is unfocused at times. The introduction of Apocalypseburg is a little messy, and it really takes you out of it. You want these characters to explore new places in this particular world, and seeing a post-apocalyptic version of Bricksburg just feels a little bland. However, once they get to the Systar System, the movie gets better. Some of the supporting characters you might have loved from the first film such as Batman, Unikitty and Benny don’t really do all that much, and it’s a bummer.
Because The Lego Movie was a great surprise that a lot of people have not expected to love so much, it’s difficult for the sequel to feel fresh again. However, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is still a good time for families with lots of jokes and heartfelt moments. You’ll have fun seeing all the pop culture references and cameos they have placed throughout the film, and that’s definitely an aspect that makes the movie worth watching. It’s not as great as the first installment, but it’s an entertaining and worthy sequel that will make you feel like a kid again!