--- title: "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 32 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 32 reviews: 15 positive, 11 mixed, 6 negative. Most critics like it, and almost all of them measure it against the first film and find it a little shorter. The praise clusters on the jokes and the songs: the pop-culture riffs arrive at speed, the musical numbers are catchier than before, and Will Arnett’s Batman is named again and again as the comic high point. The animation is admired throughout, and a few reviews single out the opening set piece in Apocalypseburg and the new Queen character as the best of the fresh material. The reservations are about repetition. Many reviews say the creators are rearranging the same bricks, that the pace drags in the middle and that the message is muddled. The spread is wide. The Guardian thinks it better than the original; Sight and Sound finds the constant irony wearing; The New York Times and Slant read it as a commercial first and a film second. About a fifth of the reviews are outright negative, mostly tired of the self-awareness. ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 28 January 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jan/28/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review-chris-pratt) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/lego-movie-2-second-part-review/) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 4/5. 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. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-r0cqpd/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part/) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating B. 26 January 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-lego-movie-2-offers-a-second-part-with-more-songs-1832025237) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review-this-block-party-doesnt-quite-click-into-place-a4061256.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Christy Lemire Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-2019) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 5 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review-20190205-story.html) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-lego-movie-2-review/) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 3/5. 7 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2019/01/26/lego-movie-2-second-part-review-no-longer-awesome-still-dash/) ## The Times — Edward Porter Rating ★★★. 10 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-robert-rodriguez-james-cameron-alita-battle-angel-kenneth-branagh-all-is-true-3t9wpnnrq) ## Time Out — Hanna Flint Rating 3/5. 1 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review-1203116453/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review/5136069.article) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 21 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/movies/the-lego-movie-two-the-second-part-review.html) ## IndieWire — Jude Dry Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/lego-movie-2-review-everything-not-awesome-trump-1202038451/) ## Sight and Sound — Alex Dudok de Wit Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/lego-movie-2-review-this-hyper-aware-sequel-builds-wall-irony) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Barsanti Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 30 January 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-is-so-not-awesome/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/lego-movie-2-second-part-1179448/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review.html) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/video/lego-movie-2-the-second-part-chris-pratt-elizabeth-banks-tiffany-haddish-will-arnett/) ## Digital Spy — Hugh Armitage Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a26039168/lego-movie-2-review/) ## NME — Nick Reilly Rating 4/5. 7 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/the-lego-movie-2-film-review-everything-is-still-awesome-2443736) ## The Wrap — Yolanda Machado Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-lego-movie-2-film-review-2019-chris-pratt-tiffany-haddish-sequel/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 7 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-lego-movie-2-review/) ## Consequence — Clint Worthington Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2019/02/film-review-lego-movie-2-the-second-part/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 3.5/5. 8 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-lego-movie-2-review/) ## Paste — Dom Sinacola Rating 7.5. 7 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/article/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part) ## The Playlist — Kimber Myers Rating B-. 26 January 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/lego-movie-2-second-part-review-20190126/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 6/10. 4 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/564013/lego-movie-2-review/) ## Polygon — Karen Han Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 7 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2019/2/7/18214813/lego-movie-2-review-sequel-chris-pratt) ## Eye for Film — Donald Munro Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2019. 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. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-2019-film-review-by-donald-munro) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part.md