The long-awaited sequel to The LEGO Movie finally arrived, we saw it on the opening weekend and it sadly tanked. It’s not why my review is way, way overdue…it’s playing at the discount theater and I think you buy LEGO 2 on DVD now; I remain digging out from a very stacked “inbox.” I couldn’t let my two cents slide and maybe what I have to blather will positively influence friends with small kids and/or those who are fellow adult LEGO fans to give the film a chance. It was great and why it didn’t have a strong opening is beyond me. I’m guessing post Super Bowl hangovers, more likely Warner Brothers waited too long.
LEGO 2 picks up immediately after the original ends and then zooms ahead for what may be a few years. Emmett, Lucy and the residents of Bricksburg now reside in a Post-Apocalyptic world, complete with the Statue of Liberty at the center (nice nod to Planet of the Apes). Everyone but Emmett have embraced their new Mad Max fashions and attitudes (Batman remains funny). As per the trailers, a mysterious attacker resembling a figure from the Friends line begins bombarding the city and kidnaps the primary characters to the Sista’ Star System. It’s up to Emmett to be the hero but this time he’s not reluctant to take up this quest. Along the way he teams up with a composite parody of all the recent roles Chris Pratt has played in movies between the franchise’s installments. You have to see LEGO 2 to find out what happens next. The only “spoiler” I will reveal is the directors choosing a new, original plot and resolution. Plus you discover the origin of the last movie’s ongoing jokes.
Again, I love how they took the trouble to not repeat LEGO, a common complaint I have with most sequels: Dumb and Dumber(er), Star Trek V, The Force Awakens and The Predator. There are new songs and yes, they are nasty, nasty, ear worms in the same vein as “Everything is Awesome.” They also pull off another element I hate with sequels, they don’t introduce a small army of additional characters on top of the previous ones we know, actually, I think there’s fewer or maybe the same number. Lastly, the humor continues to be on par with LEGO in there are jokes which will fly over kids’ heads, namely the self-aware or referential ones.
Just go see this! You will laugh, smile and enjoy LEGO 2 as much as LEGO. Brace yourself again for a sudden urge to go shopping to get the hilarious sets and the upcoming Star Wars/LEGO packages, celebrating 20 years. We’re now getting prepped for Brick Fiesta’s return to Austin this June. Enjoy our avatars who were psyched to see LEGO 2.
Alamo Extras: Music videos for Strumbellas’ “Salvation” and the overplayed Beastie Boys’ “Intergalactic”; scene from Valley of Gwangi, cowboys trying to lasso a dinosaur; LEGO The Force Awakens Olympics; Turkish Airlines’ safety video with Lucy, Emmett, Batman, Garmadan and others; drive-in plug for coffee; Adventure Time‘s opening in LEGO; a feature about an artist who does LEGO sculptures with plain bricks; and a synopsis of what has happened before in LEGO, LEGO Batman and Ninjago. All else were repeats from previous movies.