The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

The critic finds the sequel even better than the first, with a sophisticated take on gender in the Lego universe. It is praised for its hilarious voice work, ceaselessly inventive pop-culture riffs and nonstop gag-storm screenplay.

A hugely fun sequel that repeats the first film's formula but delivers giddy, subversive humour and stunning animation. The critic highlights its self-referential shrewdness and surreal jokes as the main appeal.

It's an ultra-slick retread that enchants younger viewers and puts a smile on grown-ups' faces with countless one-liners and an inventive colorful backdrop, though it doesn't offer anything different from the predecessor.

The film offers more songs, laughs, and craft than some spin-offs but less resonance and streamlined magic than the first, opting for a cute but prescriptive worldview.

A semi-brilliant family movie that doesn't quite match the original or Toy Story sequels, with sophisticated gags and visuals undermined by familiar territory and faltering pace in places. The critic singles out the complex Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi character and the end-credits song for praise.

The sequel is a lot of fun but lacks the consistent cleverness and thrill of the original. It offers catchy songs, meta gags, and a welcome feminist streak, though pacing drags at times.

It is funny but falls short of the first, with a busy, bouncy and fitfully inspired approach. The puns, one-liners, and blend of sincerity and snark are amusing, and it saves the best for last.

The toys are starting to look worn but this is hardly the playdate from hell, acknowledging some fatigue in the sequel while affirming it remains enjoyable.

The film has lost some of the original's awesomeness and feels like it works too hard, but still delivers effortful entertainment. The critic singles out the rip-roaring Mad Max-style opening set piece in Apocalypseburg for praise.

The wit and silliness of the jokes hold up well enough to please children and parents alike, with some fun at Chris Pratt's expense. It lacks the original's effervescent novelty, however, as the creators are now just rearranging the same bricks.

This sequel lacks the original’s breathless inspiration and feels convoluted, but remains a funny and warm-hearted watch with hilarious songs and meta jokes, especially from Batman.

Mile-a-minute jokes aside, the sequel seems a bit confused about its message. It is faster and denser with catchy songs, but the energy covers for a wobblier foundation and dissipated novelty.

The songs are catchier but the jokes aren’t as consistent in this energised but only sporadically engaging follow-up; it explores intriguing ideas about children shedding sweetness to seem cool, yet most pleasures come from familiarity with the characters and world, which aren’t as delightful as in the first film.

For those new to the series it is enjoyably hectic and daft, but for others the novelty has faded and it feels formless and stale. It features itchy songs, in-jokes, and live-action scraps about sibling play.

The film is pretty much like the first but less distractingly fun and shiny. It functions more obviously as a commercial, with the mind drifting to thoughts of studio exploitation.

The follow-up is a flat re-mix that tells kids sometimes everything's not awesome, delivering a post-Trump LEGO world without the original's spark.

The critic finds the sequel's hyper-ironic tone increasingly annoying despite some great gags, while noting it mines the premise for new themes about human relationships and gender norms. The animation and cultural references provide humor, but the self-awareness undermines its serious points.

The deconstruction of corporatized play gets run through the sequelizer with acrid results; the original fizziness is gone and the film feels forced and commercially motivated.

The sequel has lost much of the original's snap and feels like a repetitive, uninspired knockoff coasting on reused gags and heart-tugging devices.

The sequel grows up with its characters and meta story but becomes more cynical, stuffed with self-aware adult-targeted jokes that weigh down the silliness.

The critic says the sequel fulfills and in some ways exceeds high expectations, particularly with its inventive musical numbers. Director Mike Mitchell and the team keep the film humming with character development and heart amid the grittier take.

The sequel captures the magic of the first film and builds on it with sharp references and emotional depth. It singles out the real-world framing device for adding genuine emotional resonance beyond the original.

The film is inventive and funny though never quite matching the first. It singles out Will Arnett's Batman and his romance with the Queen for comic high points and meta-humour.

The critic calls it a delightful all-ages adventure that expands the Lego universe with new worlds, characters, timely messages about heroism and childhood, and catchy tunes. It has the potential to reach even the most cynical viewers through its vivid imagery and themes of connection.

The sequel suffers from some sequelitis and haphazard storytelling that makes it pale next to the original, but the critic still had a blast thanks to razor-sharp humor, stunning animation, and thoughtful themes around toxic masculinity and maturity.

The film coasts on series goodwill for much of its runtime with side gags lacking prior snap, but it is almost wholly redeemed by its climax, unexpected plot threads, and surprisingly sweet character development that updates the themes for a darker world.

The film is witty and fun but labors to stretch the premise and lacks the original's freshness. It singles out the fast and furious pop culture jokes for praise while noting the sequel's inherent lack of novelty.

Less revelatory than the first film, it still thoughtfully explores growing up, toxic masculinity, and the value of trying over perfection, delivering a lovely message that everything isn’t awesome but isn’t so bad either.

The film is all over the place with fast jokes and enviable energy but is exhausting and not as successful or memorable as the first. It still offers a heartwarming message about there being no one right way to play.

The sequel is familiar and treads ground already covered by other animated films, though it has charm, wit and catchy music. The story fails to reach the heights of the original.

It doesn’t quite clear the high bar set by the original and lacks some cohesion, but it makes up for that with idiosyncratic ideas, self-referential humor, and moments of brilliance while juggling too many concepts at once.

The film is fun but relies on too many throwaway jokes and references that are repeated ad nauseum and interfere with pacing. It feels thin compared to the original, with a heavy-handed message and less subtlety.