It takes awhile, but eventually these lego characters build to a big finish, but this film is really just tweaking more of the same. It’s good, but not up to the original seen 5 years ago. But maybe the surprise and excitement of seeing the Lego blocks come to life the first time can’t be replicated, even with all of the voices of recognizable stars who play some of your favorite superheroes. Jonah Hill as the Green Lantern, Channing Tatum as Superman, Jason Mamoa as Aquaman, Margot Robbie as Harlie Quinn, even Will Forte as Abraham Lincoln. They play on an avalanche of colorful bits of plastic molded by the CGI tech builders into massive and elaborate configurations.
There’s still the pleasure of the puns and one-liners that both celebrate and mock pop culture. But Director Mike Mitchell (Trolls, Sky High) and writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have a tough time finding the right timing and pace. The flow and rhythm is what made the ride so special in the original flick. It’s only in the final act do the filmmakers show a confident feel for cutting good action and provide some quick hitting jokes.
Emmett (Chris Pratt) is back and so is his unshakable optimism that was originally embodied in the brain-curdling anthem “Everything is Awesome.” You’ll hear even more music that will get stuck inside your head, like “Catchy Song” which has only one lyric, which happens to be “This song is going to get stuck inside your head”. There’s even a song that plays during the credits paying homage to…that’s right, credits!
Lucy/Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) is positioned as the tough counterpoint to Emmett’s peace-loving piece of plastic. This movie picks up after the end of the first film when the Lego Duplo characters were introduced. Duplos are whole new set of characters for young Lego fans. Adding this Duplo universe also gives lead voices like Pratt, Banks and Stephanie Beatriz the opportunity to play dual, opposite roles. Pratt’s Emmett is counterbalanced by his Rex Dangervest. Elizabeth Banks also voices Lucy and Wyldstyle.
The duplos have morphed into space invaders who are demolishing Bricksburg, turning it into a Mad Max-style wasteland. Whatever the residents try to repair or build is quickly smashed by the sweet looking, baby-talking destroyers who turn Bricksburg into “Apocalypseburg.”
This is an even bleaker scenario than in the first movie. But it’s still up to the obliviously optimistic Emmett to save the world even though he’s pretty much responsible for the pickle they’re in.
Tiffany Haddish voices the conquering, shape-shifting queen Watevra Wa’ Nabi. She kidnaps most of Briscksburg and is setting her sights on a permanent alliance with the eternally clueless Batman (Will Arnett). Arnett acts out with just the right amount of self indulgence.
This script incorporates more glimpses of the live-action, warring brother and sister Finn (Jaden Sand, back from the first movie) and Bianca (Brooklyn Prince from The Florida Project). If the kids can’t learn to get along, there will be no chance for their Lego towns to live in harmony either. The real-life kids hold the key to life and death for the Lego universes they create simply for play. That’s a fact that never dawns on Emmett nor any of his plastic buddies.
The basic formula used to make the first film is just tweaked a bit, but remains firmly in place. Emmett and Lucy exist to bring youthful joy and exuberance to the world. The goodness and humanity of these bits of colorful plastic can still help make the real world a little better place, if you can avoid stepping on a Lego brick in your bare feet! Maya Rudolph as the kids’ Mom winces beautifully when that happens. We’ve all been there.
While this clever version of the Lego Franchise is really nothing new, we think it will be a crowd pleaser. At the downer part of the movie, music composer Mark Mothersbaugh unwittingly gives what we think is an accurate review of this movie through the song, “Everything’s Not Awesome”…but it’s still pretty good.
Warner Bros. 106 Minutes PG
