LEGO MOVIE 2: JUST ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

It’s another dreary February, and while it might still be about four months ’till summer is here, “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” might be just what you need to brighten up your day.

Being just as seizure-inducingly colorful as the first Lego movie, The Second Part somehow manages to up the ante with its glitter pop aesthetic and insidiously catchy original soundtrack, as Emmet, Lucy, Batman, and their new friend, Rex Dangervest, team up to save Bricksburg from the evil Duplo invaders and their queen, Watevra Wa’Nabi.

Directed by Mike Mitchell this time around, but still written and produced by (Phil) Lord and (Christopher) Miller, the film retains the lightning-fast pace and quick sense of humor that made the original so fun.

Once again, the cast is made up of every Warner Brothers property worth caring about, and then some.

The Justice League, Gandolf, Lex Luthor, and Velma are just a few of the many assorted characters you’ll find in the background of the film, or even in some more prominent roles.

Our hero, Emmet, played by Chris Pratt, is, of course, the primary focus of the film again, with Elizabeth Banks (Lucy), and Will Arnett (Batman) still having a solid amount of screen time, along with Tiffany Haddish as the evil queen.

Considering how good everyone was the first time around, it’s no surprise that the voice acting is superb.

Pratt remains just as enjoyably naive and overzealous as in the original, and is complimented perfectly by Arnett’s gravelly, narcissistic portrayal of Batman.

The real star of The Lego Movie franchise, however, is Lord and Miller’s unique comedic stylings… at least, for the most part.

While pacing plays a fairly big issue in the first third of the movie, which moves at a breakneck speed, the duo’s bubbly and biting meta humor makes up for the lack of quality time spent developing the primary conceit of movie during its first 30 minutes.

Lord and Miller aren’t just a pair of pun-happy comedians though, as their wit reaches beyond their comedic chops and reveals itself in this unique Lego version of a coming-of-age story.

They do pull a bit of a “Toy Story 3,” though, hitting a number of the same beats and themes as that movie.

As far as sequels are concerned, this one is about average. There are so many convoluted subplots and characters that are thrown at the screen every second that it can be a little overwhelming and comes across as a crazy, rainbow sugar high at times.

It’s certainly no “Terminator 2,” but on a cinematic level it is impressive. The distinctive mix of stop motion and CG animation in this film never ceases to amaze and is practically worth the price of admission in and of itself.

There may already be two other Lego movies shot and released in this style, but truly the timeless charm of Legos and their iconic aesthetic makes for some of the most wonderful and inventive visual design to be seen on the big screen.

Suffice it to say, if you’re a fan of the first movie, a fan of crossover films, or of interesting animation in general, then you should probably go see this, despite its issues.

It may be a “kids’ movie,” but it has more than enough jokes and fun moments for parents and children alike, and I’d wager even the most dour of individuals would have a hard time not enjoying themselves at least a little.