It’s definitely not as fresh as the first movie. But The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part can still keep that grin on your face.
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Synopsis
Five years after the event of the first movie, Finn’s younger sister Bianca “invades” the world of Finn’s creations, transforming Bricksburg into Apocalypseburg, a dystopian wasteland world. Still as upbeat as ever, though, Emmet builds a dream home for himself and Lucy, only to see it thrashed when Lucy and his other friends are kidnapped by an alien general. During the intergalactic journey to rescue his friends, Emmet encounters Rex Dangervest, who not only agrees to help but also teaches Emmet how to further harness his Master Builder powers. All seems to go well till the crucial showdown. The truth behind the alien invasion will turn Emmet’s cheerful life upside down.
Snappy Review
I’m not sure whether it was the case for you. When I watched the first Lego Movie in 2014, what tickled me most was not the deluge of cameos or Easter Eggs from pop culture, it was the tongue-in-cheek, almost self-deprecatory humour.
For example, it wasn’t just Batman being a major supporting character. It was the emphasis on his, erm, rather indulgent and un-heroic side. The same goes for other cameos. For example, the Superman theme door chime.
The same approach was reused in The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie. In the case of the former, to greater success. With that, I guess the inevitable is that this approach could only go downhill. Not as in the humour becomes unbearable, but rather, it just doesn’t deliver that great a kick anymore. There is no longer any freshness.
But don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying The Lego Movie 2 is unfunny. It succeeded in keeping a grin on my face throughout its run. I also deeply enjoyed the intergalactic faring bits. There was a Guardians of the Galaxy feel throughout, if you know what I mean.
What felt like a let-down, instead, was the overall lack of surprise. As in, you know those cameos and Easter Eggs are just going to keep appearing. You even know how they would pop out.
Funny as they are still, they just aren’t that memorable anymore. Beyond a point, I actually stopped looking forward to them
To be fair, the story compensated in the final third with the “twist.” (Some viewers might see this coming from light years away, but I certainly didn’t) It makes me wonder, though, what’s going to be the future direction for the Lego movie franchise from now on. More cameos? Broader pop culture references?
While I’m not pessimistic, neither can I say I’m in anticipation. Fingers-crossed that the next Lego movie or spinoff will present a newer experience for everyone.
Read my other Snappy Movie Reviews.
