It’s hard to believe, but since we last heard from Emmet and Lucy in The LEGO Movie, there have been not one, but two other LEGO movies—The LEGO Batman Movie and The LEGO Ninjago Movie. With those two successes, producers behind this LEGO movie mania can finally deliver on the promise that was laid out in the first LEGO flick back in 2014!
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part has landed on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download formats for a legion of fans who believe that Everything is Awesome in the world of LEGO. Thing is, as we learn in the opening moments of the highly anticipated sequel, the upbeat nature of the landscape that introduced us to Emmet (Chris Pratt), Lucy (Elizabeth Banks) and of course LEGO Batman (Will Arnett, still slaying it as our best Batman—don’t hate me for that!). As joked in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part trailer, a particular Taco Tuesday didn’t go so well, and society has not recovered. Also teased in that teaser is the fact that our heroes will have to deal with a threat that makes the villain in the first film seem like a Disney character.
We’ve got aliens and they’re invading! LEGO Duplo invaders, specifically, and as a parent whose child has enjoyed those oversized LEGO pieces, they can be dangerous (especially to the bottoms of feet of parental units!). Those alien Duplos wreak havoc and destroy Emmet and Lucy’s LEGO land that has everyone in town reeling. There is nothing left to do but to fight back and that battle will take our heroes from the first film to places not yet explored—outer space! It is a world inhabited with fantastical planets, new characters and of course … some insanely catchy new tunes!
As was the case in the first film, there is a cornucopia of fun for the little ones, but adults are not left out in the cinematic cold as filmmakers’ whip smart sense of humor will delight all, from five to 85.
It’s an all-star cast as well that has grown since the first film. Joining Arnett, Banks and Pratt is Nick Offerman, Charlie Day, Stephanie Beatriz, Maya Rudolph (who delights as “Mom”) and continuing her hot streak that shows no signs of slowing is Tiffany Haddish as our main villain, Queen Wateyra Wa’Nabi. She not only makes a formidable villain, but also a delightful one to boot.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (fresh from winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature for their work on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) are still producers on this one but have left the directing duties to Mike Mitchell (Trolls and Shrek Ever After). Miller and Lord penned the screenplay and as such, look for that wicked smart sense of humor to continue, and expand.
It is a different feel, slightly, this time around than the first LEGO Movie. The stakes are higher, the humor is more robust and yes, the songs are even more catchy. That is par for the course for a sequel, regardless of format, live action or animated. There also shows no signs of LEGO burnout, what with a handful of films now released. All involved have upped the ante and brought an entertainment film to the masses who devoured The LEGO Movie five years ago. Also, there is a bit of deeper thought added to this go-around in a way that will not be lost on the younger viewers but will make us older fans of the film series think about the world we live in and elicit fond childhood memories that recall playing with utter abandon.
They Come in Pieces: Assembling The LEGO Movie 2 is a bonus feature that does something that sequels rarely do—look back at the original and as such gives viewers priceless context for how the follow-up was put together, pun intended. This featurette does a fantastic job of illustrating the film’s themes, introduces new characters and explores the voice acting talent and how everyone brought their A-game into the booth. Also, truly appreciated the look at the film’s production design, again something animated movies rarely give insight into with the bonus features.
Everything is Awesome Sing-Along is a full-length movie and presented in karaoke-style format. It also presents the film with priceless animated dialogue, pop-up trivia, a Unikitty cameo character count and a terrific game of seek and find!
A new movie short arrives with our favorite Master Builder, Emmet, planning a holiday bash. Emmet’s Holiday Party: A LEGO Movie Short finds Emmet trying to raise the spirits of Apocalypseburg to help brighten the place up. Does he succeed? Check out the sensational short and find out!
Love it when animated movies add outtakes. It is that sort of forward thinking that has always endeared us to the LEGO series of films. Outtakes and Deleted Scenes run just over 12 minutes and delights with every single second.
Also adore that an official lyric music video version of Super Cool is included. The track by Beck featuring Robyn & The Lonely Island (who gave us the first film’s ear worm Everything is Awesome).
The ultimate “making-of” comes in the form of the audio commentary track with director Mitchell, Lord, Miller, as well as Animation Director Trish Gum. The insight provided by all involved is priceless and will add layers of richness to the entire experience that is a LEGO Movie.
Film Grade: B
Bonus Features: B+