
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part
2019, PG, 90 min. Directed by Mike Mitchell. Voices by Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Charlie Day, Channing Tatum. Starring Maya Rudolph, Jadon Sand, Brooklynn Prince, Will Ferrell.
REVIEWED By Steve Davis, Fri., Feb. 8, 2019
Everything is still pretty dang awesome in this waggishly entertaining sequel to one of the most creative animated movies released in recent memory. Upon first viewing half a decade ago, The LEGO Movie enthralled and (better yet!) surprised in a way that upturned all expectations about a film that deceptively appeared on its face to be a feature-length advertisement for a Danish toy. But now that we’re aware of the human ingenuity shaping the adventures of good-guy Emmet (Pratt) in a world composed entirely of colorful, interlocking plastic bricks, the wow factor has unavoidably dimmed a little.
Picking up exactly where the first film ended and then quickly fast-forwarding five years, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s smartly conceived screenplay constructs and then deconstructs two competing Lego universes: one, a bleak dystopian landscape of Mad Max-inspired mayhem from the adolescent male imagination of the now-teenage Finn (Sand) from the original movie, and the other, a bright and sparkly kingdom of girlish whimsy imagined by his younger sibling, Bianca (Prince). While The LEGO Movie 2 may be faulted for its traditional gender biases, the big brother/little sister conflict mines territory with a specificity that will hit home for some adults in the audience, depending on past familial experiences. While the sequel lacks a third-act revelation on par with the first movie, the big surprise here is not a narrative twist, but an unexpected tug on the heart.
The laughs come at a steady pace, with most of them courtesy of the subtitles translating the squawking dialogue of a horde of minion raptors employed by a new tough-guy character named Rex Dangervest (also voiced by Pratt, but with a John Wayne cadence and a nod to his role in Jurassic World). Compared to the original film and the subsequent Batman-themed follow-up, the secondary characters here are few and far between, reducing the possibilities for nudge-nudge humor. (Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, however, makes a brief appearance.) But the movie’s constant meta-comedy recognition of the endearing yet aggravating earworm quality of the first film’s “Everything Is Awesome” theme song may be its most effectual in-joke. Because once you’ve again heard that tune in its various incarnations in this sequel, good luck getting it out of your head.
Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline
14028 U.S. Hwy. 183 N., 512/861-7070, drafthouse.com/austin/theater/lakeline
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
Alamo Drafthouse Mueller
1911 Aldrich #120, 512/572-1425, drafthouse.com/austin/theater/mueller
Mon., Feb. 18
Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane
5701 W. Slaughter, 512/861-7060, drafthouse.com/austin/theater/slaughter-lane
Showtimes at this venue are subject to frequent change. Please confirm daily times by phone or website.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
1120 S. Lamar, 512/861-7040, www.drafthouse.com/theater/south-lamar
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Alamo Drafthouse Village
2700 W. Anderson #701, 512/861-7030, www.drafthouse.com/austin/theater/village
Tuesday matinee Baby Day shows (first show of the day) are intended for parents and their children younger than 6. Showtimes at this venue are subject to frequent change. Please confirm daily times by phone or website.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Barton Creek Square (AMC)
2901 South Capital of Texas Hwy, 512/306-1991, www.amctheatres.com
Matinee discounts available before 4pm daily. Bring Your Baby matinees the first Tuesday of every month.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Sat., Feb. 23
Cinemark 20 and XD
N. I-35 & FM 1825, 512/989-8535
Cost for 3-D and XD shows is regular ticket price plus a premium.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Cinemark Cedar Park
1335 E. Whitestone, Cedar Park, 800/326-3264
Call theatre for complete list of movies and showtimes.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Cinemark Hill Country Galleria 14
12812 Hill Country Blvd., 800/326-3264, www.cinemark.com/theater_showtimes.asp?theater_id=377
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Cinemark Round Rock
4401 N. I-35, Round Rock, 800/326-3264
Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium. Call theatre for complete March 26-28 showtimes.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Cinemark Southpark Meadows
9900 S. I-35, 800/326-3264
Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Cinemark Stone Hill Town Center
18820 Hilltop Commercial Dr., 512/251-0938, www.cinemark.com
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
City Lights Theatre
420 Wolf Ranch Parkway, Georgetown, 512/868-9922
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
EVO Entertainment
3200 Kyle Crossing, Kyle, 512/523-9009, www.evo-entertainment.com
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Flix Brewhouse
2200 S. I-35, Round Rock, 512/244-3549, www.flixbrewhouse.com/round-rock
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
Galaxy Highland 10
6700 Middle Fiskville, 512/467-7305, www.galaxytheatres.com
No one under 18 will be allowed in the theatre on Friday or Saturday after 7pm without an adult.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
Gateway Theatre
9700 Stonelake, 512/416-5700
Discounts daily before 6pm. Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
Hometown Cinemas
120 MLK Jr. Industrial Blvd. W, Lockhart, 512/398-4100, www.hometowncinemas.com
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
iPic Theaters Austin
3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, 512/568-3400, www.ipic.com
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Metropolitan
901 Little Texas, 512/447-0101
Discounts daily before 6pm. Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
Moviehouse & Eatery
8300 N. FM 620, Bldg. B, 512/501-3520, www.themoviehouse.com/trails/
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
Moviehouse & Eatery - Lantana Place
7415 Southwest Parkway, Building 7, 512/572-0770, www.themoviehouse.com/lantana/
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
Schulman Theatres Lost Pines 8
1600 Chestnut St, Bastrop, 512/321-0123, www.schulmantheatres.com
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
ShowBiz Cinemas 8 Marble Falls
2600 Hwy 281 North, Marble Falls
Call theatre for August 22-23 showtimes.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
Sky Cinemas
13201 US-290, 512/457-0700, www.skycinemas.com
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
The Spot Cinema Eatery & Social Haus
1180 Thorpe Lane #130, San Marcos, 512/210-8600, www.evo-entertainment.com/locations/the-spot/
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Starplex 12 San Marcos
1250 Wonder World Drive, San Marcos, 512/805-8000
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
Westgate 11
4477 S. Lamar, 512/899-2717
Discounts daily before 6pm. Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Mon., Feb. 18
Tue., Feb. 19
Wed., Feb. 20
Thu., Feb. 21
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Richard Whittaker, April 23, 2014
Marjorie Baumgarten, Dec. 16, 2011
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, Mike Mitchell, Maya Rudolph, Jadon Sand, Brooklynn Prince, Will Ferrell