Film Review: "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" (2019).

"The Universe is Expanding" in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. This computer-animated musical adventure comedy film directed by Mike Mitchell, written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and produced by Warner Animation Group and Animal Logic. It is a sequel to The Lego Movie (2014), it is the fourth film in the franchise, following The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie (both 2017). It's been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: Lego Duplo invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild.

In early February 2014, after the release of The Lego Movie, Jared Stern and Michelle Morgan were hired to pen the sequel. In mid March, Deadline reported that animation co-director Chris McKay would direct the sequel with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller as producers. In late July, it was reported that Chris Pratt and Will Arnett might return to their roles of Emmet and Batman, although it was not confirmed. In October 2014, Warner Bros. scheduled The Lego Batman Movie for 2017, and The Lego Movie 2 for May 25, 2018. In the same month, it was also reported that Lord and Miller had signed on to pen the sequel. In addition, it was announced that Australia-based animation studio Animal Logic was in talks to produce the next three Lego films, though the deal was not finalized. In late February 2015, the title of the sequel was confirmed to be The Lego Movie Sequel, and it was to be directed by Rob Schrab, replacing McKay, who went on to direct The Lego Batman Movie instead. By November, Miller announced that the first draft of the script was completed, even though Lord and Miller would go on to rewrite the script during production. By February 2017, Schrab was replaced by Mitchell, who reportedly left the director's chair due to "creative differences". In early October, Production began in Canada. From late March 2018 onwards, it was reported that Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Charlie Day, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Cobie Smulders, and Will Ferrell were confirmed to reprise their roles. The cast was further rounded out with Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, Richard Ayoade, Margot Robbie, Jason Momoa, and Maya Rudolph as new additions. In May, the film was officially renamed The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, and was pushed back to a February 8th 2019 release date.

The film stars Pratt, Banks, Arnett, Day, Brie, Offerman, and Ferrell, who once again gave performances that were entertaining, even though it was not as fresh as the first time round. The film also stars Haddish, Beatriz, and Rudolph, who all gave performances that put unique spin on their characters, like the cast in the first film.

While not as clever or inventive as its predecessor, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part compensates with enough dazzling visuals to keep younger viewers entertained.

Simon says The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part receives:

Also, see my review for The Lego Batman Movie and Trolls.