By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Not all movie sequels live up to the original. However, I?m pleased to report that
?The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part,? is almost as awesome as its 2014 predecessor.
While the first ?Lego? movie was two hours long, this sequel is 106 minutes, but, is chockfull of clever jokes and gags that fly at a frenetic pace. There are some noteworthy standout bit cameos from Bruce Willis and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Honestly, there?s almost too much happening in this crazy, little movie, but chances are you won?t be bored.
The story in ?The Second Part? is a bit more adult and centers around Finn (Jadon Sand, TV?s ?The Affair?). He?s reluctant to allow his sister Bianca (Brooklynn Prince, ?The Florida Project?) in on his dark, sinister and imaginative world.
That changes when his mom (Maya Rudolph, TV?s ?The Good Place?) intervenes.
A lot has happened in the five years since we?ve seen Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt, ?Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom?) and his crew: Lucy/Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks, the upcoming movie, ?Charlie?s Angels? ) Batman (Will Arnett, TV?s ?Riviera?), spaceman Benny (Charlie Day, ?It?s Always Sunny in Philadelphia?), MetalBeard (Nick Offerman, ?Bad Times at the El Royale?), and Unikitty (Alison Brie, TV?s ?BoJack Horseman?).
They aren?t feeling so merry, heroic or awesome.
The reason?
The citizens of Bricksburg are facing a new threat: Duplo invaders from the Systar System have virtually destroyed their colorful metropolis. Joining in on the chaos is the powerful Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi (an amusing Tiffany Haddish, Girls Trip,? Night School? and ?Uncle Drew?).
It?s going to take some time for our miniature friends to snap things back into place.
Things become more complicated when Lucy (Banks) is kidnapped by General Mayhem/Sweet Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz, TV?s ?Brooklyn Nine-Nine?).
Trying to reclaim what?s theirs and defeat these intruders will require lots of strategic planning and heroics. Emmet teams with Rex Dangervest (also voiced by Pratt), a super macho and a perfect companion to offset Emmet?s naivety and warm-heartedness. Tough times call for tough dudes and Rex is one tough dude.
What?s at stake will require everyone in Bricksburg to band together to restore their universe back to total awesomeness even if it means doing so against the backdrop of some catchy pop tunes and musical sequences.
And yeah, the songs do stick in your head.
Of course, ?The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part? is silly, but director Mike Mitchell (?Trolls?) and returning screenwriters Christopher Miller and Phil Lord (?The Lego Movie?) bring such sophistication and charm to the silliness that it?s impossible to resist.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.
Take A Look At This Trailer For
"THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
