Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

5 years ago, Warner Bros Animation took their reputation to the next level with their release of The Lego Movie (2014). With its meta-humour, attractive visuals and hopeful message that captured the hearts of critics and audiences of all ages.

Now, in 2019 we have the aptly named The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, the fourth film in the Lego Movie Franchise. Returning to their creation were writers Phillip Lord and Christopher Miller, and with the franchise retaining the vast majority of its previous celebrity tier cast; Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Will Arnett to name a few, this sequel was shaping up to retain the success of the original.

The movie begins exactly where the first movie left off, with the introduction of Finn's sister, Bianca. She has brought her DUPLO to wreak havoc on his world of Lego.

After a dramatic opening, the movie moves 5 years into the future into Apocalypseburg (understandably a Lego parody of the post-apocalyptic genre). Emmet’s (Chris Pratt) crew are stolen by Bianca and he has to go on a mission through the ‘Sistar-System’ in order to get them back to stop the end of the Lego world. What later develops pushes the characters to their limits and forces them ‘to grow up’. With a few expected and unexpected plot twists around various new characters thrown in, the movie is kept from being too slow paced and helps give it a satisfying ending.

Our hero Emmet has a similar drive to the first film, except instead of looking to be special he is looking to grow up. WyldStyle/Lucy (Elizabeth Banks) takes more of the spotlight in the plot as she struggles to embrace who she truly is and her relationship with Emmet is pushed to breaking point.

Considering his recent spin-off movie, Batman (Will Arnett) comes across as almost entirely stale with all his meta-references exhausted by 2 movies. Emmet's crew of UniKitty, Metal Beard and Benny the spaceman feel as if they are simply stereotyped passengers along for the ride.

Some new life is injected into the film by the sister’s characters of General Mayhem who acts as a mysterious antagonist to begin the action and the fabulous Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi who lulls everyone with her charm. The introduction of the brooding ‘Master Breaker’ Rex gives the film a lease of new life in its later stages.

One thing the film has not lost from its predecessor is the humour, even if the humour seemed pitched towards a younger audience than the first movie. Equally the movie’s visuals have not dipped in quality with the animators constantly reinventing entertaining ways in which to display the Lego world, whether its through giant structure designs or psychedelic sequences.

Warner also tries to recreate the success of the hit single ‘Everything is Awesome' from the first movie, with the equally satirical ‘The Song That Will Get Stuck Inside Your Head'.

Ultimately, The Lego Movie 2 is an enjoyable continuation of the Lego Movie storyline with impressive visuals, witty meta-humour, entertaining plot elements and a positive take on growing up, however, it is a hopeful conclusion to a franchise that is slowly losing its magic.

If you, your family or friends happen to watch and enjoy the movie as I did, there is currently an exhibition on in Canterbury in the Beaney Museum reliving Britain's past through Lego: https://www.facebook.com/events/2173542299640682/