Our second proper look at The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is finally here, and it is a glorious takedown of Chris Pratt as a leading male action hero. Spinning out of the events we saw the very end of the last film, Bricksburg has seen better days, but at its center is Emmet Brickowski (Pratt) and he still doesn’t have a care in the world. Everything will always be awesome.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller have passed the co-directing duties over to Mike Mitchell and Trisha Gum but remain on as producers. Based on the below trailer, the film has not lost any of its irreverent humor or sweet sentimentality towards corporate plastic. Most of the old gang have returned for the sequel alongside several new voice additions. Let the actor spotting commence…
The film definitely spotlights Pratt over Elizabeth Banks as the kidnapped WyldStyle, and while I appreciate a lot of the deprecating humor targetted at Pratt, I still hope there is plenty of action for Banks’ kickass lego to devastate. Since we’re getting double-mint Pratt, maybe this new Lego toy system has room for a Banks clone as well. But I’m getting ahead of myself. There is a lot to explore in this trailer, let’s dive right into the opening hellscape.
The trailer begins very similarly to the first one released way back in June of this year. After the Duplo alien invasion, the people of Bricksburg can no longer celebrate their “Everything is Awesome” philosophy. WyldStyle looks across a barren wasteland from her perch atop the Lego version of the Statue of Liberty from Planet of the Apes. “You blew it up, you maniacs!” Everything is bleak with no smiles in sight.
That is until Emmet the cheerful crusader drops in with a double dose of coffee to wash away that bitter disposition. A girl can’t go anywhere to brood with this gormless guy around.
The fury road of Bricksburg’s apocalypse is just another blissful dancefloor for Emmet to rock his headphones. Even with roving marauders interrupting what is sure to be another sunny song, Emmet is unable to change with the times. For WyldStyle being tough and battle-ready is not a problem. For Emmet, it’s an impossibility.
When a shooting star announces the arrival of Sweet Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz), the citizens of Bricksburg flee to the most secured bunker around: The Bat-Cave. Makes sense that the Dark Knight imperator would operate The Citadel.
Unikitty (Alison Brie) slips in right before the slowly closing bat-doors slam shut, but one little star friend is trapped in the gap. Witnessing the lil guy’s pain is too much for Emmet, and when the star relates the sensation of cold taking over his body, the dope flips the switch releasing the creature. Hurray! No harm, no foul, right?
General Sweet Mayhem crashes her way through and kidnaps the fiercest leader of Bricksburg. Wrapped in a bevy of adorable stickers, WyldStyle is ripped from her friends and imprisoned in Mayhem’s spaceship. Notice Mayhem’s friendly design, signifying a universe of Legos not previously seen cinematically.
Once again, Emmet is to blame, but he’s not going to sit out this adventure. Brick by brick, snap by snap, he constructs a starship from the available suburban pieces. To infinity and beyond, they’re going where no brick has gone before. And just like J.J.’s Captain Kirk, Emmet will challenge the final frontier to the tune of the Beastie Boys.
Emmet is about to perish within an asteroid field when he’s rescued by his most handsome and stubbliest doppelganger, Rex Dangervest (also voiced by Pratt). He’s everything Emmet is not. You know, a badass.
Rex is busting with total confidence thanks to a series of adventures that happy-go-lucky Chris Pratt — I mean, Emmet Brickowski couldn’t possibly comprehend. He’s tested his cosmic might as a Guardian of the Galaxy…
…followed in the footsteps of Indiana Jones as a treasure rescuing archaeologist…
…lassoed blackhats with The Magnificent Seven…
…and herded a world of Jurassic beasts all in the name of science and adventure. Nothing to laugh about here, we’re just nudge-nudging and wink-winking with these clever filmmaker gooses.
If that were not enough, it appears that Rex pilots around the galaxy inside a star destroyer in the shape of a fist. Rex is all man, and he will be a tremendous thorn in Emmet’s self-assurance.
Or not. Looks like Emmet doesn’t know the meaning of the word doubt. He stares in the face of the ultimate male and cuddles his raptor pets into submission. The Lego Movie 2 highlights both the adorable and ferocious aspects of Chris Pratt’s charm, and the only man feeling less about himself because of this trailer is the one typing these words. The dude is undeniably cool.
Rex warns Emmet about venturing too close to the Sistar System (a.k.a. the colorful bricks belonging to Finn’s sister seen at the end of the original Lego Movie). That realm is ruled over by Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish). She is a diabolical shapeshifter with super evil vibes that can appear as pleasant as a My Little Pony, or…
…as terrifying as a many-armed squid demon. We’re with Batman, we prefer the palatable pony version as well.
We catch a quick glimpse of a Justice League dance party before bouncing back to Batman atop a skyscraper waging war with a Duplo kiddie frog monstrosity. His batarangs prove ineffective against its cuteness. Despite a direct hit, the abomination defies the glum Gothamite with a “Missed me.” Uh, no he did not! This cute toad is a beast.
Emmet and WyldStyle reunite by the end of the trailer, and she makes a shocking discovery. In an effort to compete with Rex’s unquestionable manliness, Emmet has Sharpied on a few stubble dots. She calls him out on it and he immediately denies such foolishness, but it’s too late to retract the marks of insecurity. A quick wipe of the chin only further exposes his precarious masculinity.
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part obliterates galaxies and theaters on February 8, 2019.