As we prepare to enter into Academy Awards crunchtime, it's nice to break up the Oscar picks with something a bit lighter. "The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part," definitely fits the bill.
In this second installment, the LEGO film franchise has lost none of its self-awareness. In fact, it takes its meta-nature to a whole new level both literally and figuratively.
I'm going to be upfront with you, I struggled on how to write the synopsis for this one. Not because it's a complicated plot (it is a kids movie), but because of one character in particular. I can't tell you why, but let's just say they're an integral part of the story and even mentioning them would ruin the joy of discovering the film for yourself.
So, because I'm not a fan of spoilers, in lieu of a synopsis here's a list of random things that are in the film (in no particular order)...
- Aliens
- Interstellar travel
- Rainbows
- Glitter (lots of glitter)
- Cake
- Apocalyptic landscapes
- Triple-decker couches
- Vests
- RBG
- Catchy pop music
- Dinosaurs
- Exploding hearts
- Sad stars
- Suburban neighborhoods
- More catchy pop music
- Baristas
- Cats
- Seriously, there's a lot of pop music
- And, of course, LEGOs
In case this list and the film's title don't make it clear, this sequel doesn't take itself too seriously. Much like it's predecessor it succeeds because it's pure fun and silliness.
The film even manages to incorporate the larger lesson learned a bit more seamlessly than the original. The story that takes place outside of the imaginary realms feels a little less forced, and matches the quirkiness of the LEGOs. If you don't know what any of that means, you should really watch (or revisit) the first film.
The point is, this latest LEGO installment manages to keep the magic from the first film while building its own charming adventure. There's literally something for everyone, including plenty of new music to compete with first film's ear worm - "Everything is Awesome."
Simply put, if you enjoyed the first film, you'll find "The Second Part" just as mindlessly entertaining.
...just for fun:
