BRICKS OF FUN
Starring: The voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Tiffany Haddish. More bits, more pieces, less awesome EVERYTHING is not quite as awesome as it used to be in the Lego screen universe, and, hey, that’s OK.
To be expected, really, when a freakishly great idea (animating an entire feature film brick by brick, then reinforcing the superstructure with killer jokes and clever storytelling) transitions into a freakishly mammoth movie franchise.
So first, the good news: The Lego Movie 2 is a marked step up from the tired, try-hard Lego Ninjago Movie.
Next, the so-so news: The Lego Movie 2 rarely finds a way to break free of the series’ nowentrenched formula.
It is definitely fun, but just as definitely less memorable than that first unforgettable instalment.
The initial vibe in this busy, fizzy sequel is all a bit Mad Max: Fury Road, as naive hero Emmet Brickowski (voiced once again by Chris Pratt) valiantly tries to keep everything about his day upbeat.
This is a tougher assignment than it used to be, as his old home town of Bricksburg is now a bombed-out wasteland named Apocalypseburg.
If order is to be restored, Emmet needs to reconvene the Master Builders, currently in far-flung exile due to the devious and destructive ways of villainous aliens hailing from the Systar system.
To properly effect a rescue, Emmet teams up with a character we have not encountered. This self-styled adventurer goes by the name of Rex Dangervest, and he says his job description is that of “galaxydefending archaeologist, cowboy and raptor trainer”.
In other words, Rex is a mash-up of Pratt’s best-known movie roles, so it is only fitting that Pratt voices his part as well. Got all that? Good. While en route to save the day for the likes of Lego regulars such as Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett), Unikitty (Alison Brie), Benny (Charlie Day) and MetalBeard (Nick Offerman), Emmet and Rex steer the movie through some random set pieces that rank as the sequel’s better moments.
While pacing or visual flair never dips beneath the same high standards all Lego movies have adhered to, there are sec- tions where energy levels are clearly on the fade.
Some of the supporting voice cast (particularly Banks and Arnett) sound a touch zestless and contractually obliged, which means the whole production sags when the always-enthused Pratt is not there to rally the troops.
It all builds to a strong ending, which justifies sticking with The Lego Movie 2 all the way through. However, the signs are there that a third instalment might be pushing it.