‘Lego’ sequel is a crowd pleaser, even without surprises
‘Second Part’ is grounded in sincerity, rises above sameness
Let’s take a look back, with a lot of surprise and maybe a hint of embarrassment, at the time we all cried during “The Lego Movie.”
The 2014 animated film blended scattershot humor, fun visuals and one of the most effective soundtrack earworms in history. But it was the emotional sucker punch — with live-action Will Ferrell becoming a kid again to save the day — that elevated this film to a classic. “The Lego Movie” was filled with irony, but sincerity carried the day.
“The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” has lost the ability to ambush its audience, and that accounts for much of the slight decline in quality. But the filmmakers understand what made the first movie work, and endeavor to give us a lot more of that. The sequel, opening Thursday, does nothing to elevate the form — and
yet it doesn’t disappoint.
The first “Lego Movie” was a kaleidoscope of color and movement, framed around a fairly traditional hero’s journey. Emmet the Lego City worker (voiced by Chris Pratt), arguably the least exciting and most optimistic minifigure, is the only hope to save the Lego universe.
“The Lego Movie 2” repeats the formula, cleverly creating an even bleaker starting point. Emmet’s actions have indirectly turned Lego City into an apocalyptic wasteland. And while his friends fight to survive, a la future Kyle Reese in the “Terminator” movies, Emmet continues to enjoy his morning coffee and white picket fence.
A new alien threat arrives, led by shape-shifting queen Watevra Wa-Nabi (Tiffany Haddish), and manages to quickly best Lego City’s greatest remaining warriors. Emmet once again has to use his assets to save the day.
That his No. 1 asset is kindness is a continuing pleasure of the series. Everything swirling around the lead character seems designed to please the adults who made the film — from the clever cameos (there’s one equal to the “Star Wars” fly-by from the first movie) to the heroics of Will Arnett’s impossibly self-absorbed Batman.
And yet Emmet is positive and unshakably goodhearted, like a “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” puppet who parachuted into a “Mad Max” movie. He’s a reminder that whatever other distractions exist to make us jaded individuals, the young and joyful hearts in the audience are the most powerful agents of change.
Christopher Miller and Phil Lord continue to guide this world with a firm hand, ceding directing duties to Mike Mitchell (“Trolls,” “Sky High”), while continuing as co-writers and producers. The song “Everything is Awesome” is followed by the even catchier “Catchy Song,” with the sole lyric, “This song is going to get stuck inside your head.”
That’s one example of the movie’s overall approach, to please crowds at the expense of innovation. There is no attempt at an “Alien”/“Aliens” or “Toy Story”/”Toy Story 2”/”Toy Story 3” evolution of form. “The Lego Movie 2” is built on safer moves.
This philosophy results in a much slower second half, where the action scenes begin to feel repetitive.
But the writers once again have a secret message in their “Lego Movie,” using the real world to jump-start the animated one. The heavily telegraphed live action twist is just as effective as it was the first time, even without the element of surprise.
So there you are again, as the credits roll, wiping away some more tears. Sure, someone originally greenlit this franchise largely because of the merchandising potential of plastic toys as lead characters. And yet “The Lego Movie” remains one of the most consistently humanizing franchises in the realm of familyfriendly movies.