Since its release back in 2014, The Lego Movie (courtesy Warner Bros.'s then-newly-developed Animation Group) has been a visual and entertaining treat that brilliantly captures the childlike innocence of playing with plastic toy bricks, and the differences that children and adults have in using them. It's a concept and message that goes just as deep as what Pixar had accomplished with the Toy Story films. And that's a testament, in part, to the film's directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who are experts at combining high art and low art, as well as clever meta humor and genuine pathos, resulting in both artistic and universally-successful filmmaking and storytelling in the medium of animation.
The film soon led to two spinoff films (The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie, both released in 2017), neither one (though fun) retaining the child-like feel of the original (one of the best of the decade by far). A benefit of the new film, aptly titled The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, is that it retains that kid-friendly perspective of plastic-brick-building, creativity, and silliness. (Check out these hilarious trailers here and here.)
The story picks up exactly where the first film left off, with mysterious spaceships of Duplo toys "attacking" the Lego world of Bricksburg on "Taco Tuesday" (don't ask). Heroes Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt), Wyldstyle/Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), pirate MetalBeard (Nick Offerman), Benny the Space Guy (Charlie Day), and Unikitty (Allison Brie) have resided to a Mad Max-/Planet of the Apes-like apocalyptic wasteland of brooding and dark times. All except Emmet, whom others believe should move on and "grow up" from his happy-go-lucky worldview and embrace being edgy.
 |
| Emmet (left) meets Rex Dangervest (both voiced by Chris Pratt) |
Then, one day, mysterious spaceships return with the equally-mysterious General Mayhem (Short Term 12's Stephanie Beatriz), who plots to abduct a selected few for a "matrimonial ceremony" in the "Sistar System," including cheesy pop-tunes, glitter, and the shapeshifting Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi (a scene-stealing Tiffany Haddish). Emmet soon goes on his own adventure to rescue his friends, and even gets help from the super-heroic Rex Dangervest (basically, a parody of Pratt's own career up until now, complete with Jurassic World raptors as sidekicks).
To get right to the point, this new film doesn't quite reach the cinematic heights of its predecessor. It's bubble-gum pop-music flavor may pander more to kids than to adults. On the other hand, its impressive animation (PLEASE stay through the credits!), hysterical meta humor (honestly, those Bruce Willis gags, and Gotham City and Lonely Island numbers, are a riot), and surprising poignancy remain entertaining and endearing enough to keep adults just as (if not more) engaged. (Lord and Miller are credited as co-producers and co-writers, while Trolls director Mike Mitchell successfully takes the helm.)
This time, instead of parent-child dynamics (although there is a bit of that here, as well), the story centers on sibling relationships, different styles and worlds apparently clashing, and visual illustrations (and cautionary tales) of what happens when we allow ego to influence us, and what happens when we decide to put differences aside, embrace who we really are, and possibly creating something greater in the process, even if everything may not always be "awesome." That about describes The Lego Movie 2, a very funny, creative, and worthy sequel.
No comments:
Post a Comment