The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) review

In 1934, Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen renamed his toy company LEGO, a name that was derived from the Danish phrase leg godt, meaning ‘play well’. In 1949, two years after they started producing plastic toys instead of wooden ones, LEGO would begin to develop what would end up becoming the company’s most famous product, interlocking bricks. And thus, over the next few decades, LEGO would quickly become one of the most iconic toy brands of all-time, allowing its customers to create all sorts of unique objects out of these plastic bricks. Over 650 billion LEGO pieces have been produced since 1958, and the company has developed a wide variety of themed sets ranging from original franchises like Bionicle and Ninjago to popular IPs such as Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. Aside from the toys, LEGO has also expanded into other facets of media, including numerous video games and their own chain of theme parks a la Disney and Universal. It’s a different story, however, when it comes to films. Prior to 2014, almost all official LEGO films were direct-to-video releases, with most of them being based around the company’s now-discontinued Bionicle franchise. But then, in 2011, Warner Bros. announced that they would be making the first theatrically-released LEGO film, which would serve as the first project from the studio’s recently revived animated film division, Warner Animation Group. In the years leading up to its release, however, some were rather skeptical about how the film would turn out. Given the franchise’s worldwide success and appeal, many assumed that it would end up being nothing more than a massive cash grab and one big toy commercial. And then Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were announced as its directors.

Ever since they made their directorial debut in 2009, Lord and Miller have very much made a name for themselves as a duo who have managed to make excellent films out of seemingly disastrous concepts. Their exploits have ranged from directing two hilarious comedies based on a previously obscure 80’s television series to producing/writing what many now consider to be the best Spider-Man film of all-time. And sure enough, when The LEGO Movie hit theaters in February 2014, it was a smash hit with critics and audiences. The film grossed over $469 million worldwide and was widely praised for its gorgeous animation, witty dialogue, and emotionally poignant story that genuinely celebrated LEGO’s devoted fandom. Because of its success, several spin-offs were then announced, with two of them being released in 2017. One was a spin-off about the original film’s breakout star, Will Arnett’s hilarious take on Batman, and the other was an adaptation of LEGO’s popular Ninjago line. But now we return to the LEGO world that started it all with The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. This time, however, Lord and Miller aren’t back to direct, though they are still involved as producers and the film’s primary screenwriters. It was originally reported that the film would serve as the directorial debut of Rob Schrab, who had previously directed episodes of the cult classic series Community. Ultimately, though, Schrab was replaced by veteran filmmaker Mike Mitchell, who’s no stranger to animation having previously directed Shrek Forever After and Trolls for DreamWorks. And even after half a decade and three whole LEGO films, that LEGO charm is still on full display.  

At the end of the original LEGO Movie, the citizens of the town of Bricksburg, led by the seemingly ordinary construction worker Emmet Brickowski (voiced by Chris Pratt), banded together to stop the evil Lord Business (voiced by Will Ferrell) from destroying their world. Unfortunately, the city is then overrun with invaders from the planet Duplo, effectively turning it into a wasteland, Apocalypseburg. And yet, while everyone else in the city has embraced their new apocalyptic lifestyle, Emmet continues to remain upbeat despite his girlfriend Lucy AKA Wyldstyle (voiced by Elizabeth Banks) wishing that he’d mature just like the rest of them. Things only manage to get worse when a new invader arrives in the form of the Duplo army’s leader, General Sweet Mayhem (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz). Sweet Mayhem proceeds to capture Lucy, Batman (voiced by Will Arnett), 1980s astronaut Benny (voiced by Charlie Day), MetalBeard the Pirate (voiced by Nick Offerman), and Princess Unikitty (voiced by Alison Brie) and brings them to her homeworld, the Systar System. There, they meet the galaxy’s ruler, the shape-shifting Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi (voiced by Tiffany Haddish), who seeks to marry one of them (which ends up being Batman) in what Lucy believes is a blatantly evil scheme. Meanwhile, back in Apocalypseburg, Emmet embarks on a journey to the Systar System himself to rescue his friends. Along the way, he ends up meeting the badass Rex Dangervest (also voiced by Chris Pratt), a galaxy-defending archaeologist/cowboy/raptor trainer who agrees to help him out while also showing him what it takes to truly be a hardened warrior.

As is the case with all these recent LEGO films, The LEGO Movie 2 boasts gorgeous animation provided by the Australian animation company Animal Logic. While technically a computer-animated film, the implementation of stop-motion animation aesthetics helps to give the film the same charm that can be found in the numerous LEGO fan films that have been made over the years. Plus, these animators deserve a lot of credit for their impressive attention to detail when creating a world that’s entirely made from LEGOs. This brilliant animation is then matched by the film’s equally terrific screenplay, which perfectly blends its heartfelt narrative with its riotous humor. Thanks to Lord and Miller’s excellent comedic sensibilities, this film arguably surpasses its predecessor when it comes to its sight gags, snappy dialogue, and hilarious cameos. But, of course, just like the first film, there’s also a lot of heart to this story thanks to its wonderful messages and themes. The original LEGO Movie served as a celebration of creative thinking and expanded upon its seemingly traditional ‘hero’s journey’ storyline to show that everyone is special in their own, unique way. The sequel then proceeds to take that even further by highlighting the importance of cooperation and seeing things from a different perspective, which is best exemplified through the expansion of the first film’s biggest plot twist that revealed that everything in the LEGO world was being manipulated by a human kid named Finn (Jadon Sand). Going off the first film’s ending, the sequel brings in Finn’s younger sister Bianca (Brooklynn Prince), which ends up affecting both their world and the LEGO world in interesting ways.

Almost all the major players from the first film’s cast return and are all great once again in their respective roles. It all starts, of course, with Chris Pratt, who continues to make Emmet one of the most endearing main protagonists in recent animation history. Emmet also benefits from having another solid character arc in this one based around the apparent necessity for him to grow up, which he mainly does through his interactions with Rex Dangervest AKA an amalgamation of Star-Lord, Owen Grady, and Faraday from The Magnificent Seven remake. Simply put, it’s a lot of fun to witness Chris Pratt playing these two roles that respectively represent his comedic roots and the charismatic leading man status that he holds today. Elizabeth Banks also gets a lot of great material to work with as well as Lucy/Wyldstyle, with the film continuing to follow the overall arc of cutting through her tough exterior (which, without spoiling anything, leads to a subtle yet very satisfying payoff at the end). And, of course, Will Arnett continues to be hilarious as LEGO Batman, even if he already had his big character arc in The LEGO Batman Movie. After that, there are the usual supporting players; Nick Offerman as MetalBeard, Alison Brie as Unikitty, Charlie Day as Benny (“SPACESHIP!!”), etc. They’re then joined by the big newcomers to this film, Tiffany Haddish as Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi and Stephanie Beatriz as General Sweet Mayhem. Haddish continues to prove why her star’s been on the rise these past few years and the film takes full advantage of her character’s shape-shifting abilities. And while Beatriz doesn’t necessarily get as much to work with as her co-stars, she works off Elizabeth Banks incredibly well in the scenes between Lucy and Mayhem.

So, can we just all agree that the LEGO Movie franchise is one of the best around? Thanks to the continued involvement of Phil Lord and Chris Miller (even when they’re not directing), this series has delivered time and time again with films that boast gorgeous animation, fun characters, and excellent emotional poignancy. As such, I’m genuinely surprised that some are saying that The LEGO Movie 2 isn’t as good as the first film (it’s that damn ‘not as fresh’ argument that long-time readers know I’m not a big fan of). On the contrary, I’d say that it’s just as good as its predecessor. Is it the better of the two? Well, that one’s legitimately up for debate, but I’d argue that this one tops the original when it comes to its humor. Whatever the case may be, though, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is an absolute must-see. Even though it’s been years since I was in the big LEGO craze that defined my childhood (still waiting for that LEGO Bionicle film…), I’m still very much drawn to these films because they continue to do a wonderful job paying tribute to their fandom by matching their creativity with the LEGO brand. After all, one of the main lyrics to the original film’s classic tune ‘Everything is Awesome’ states that ‘everything is better when we stick together’. And sure enough, this film directly addresses the importance of unity while also providing some timely commentary on the dangers of toxic masculinity. In short, it’s yet another carefully constructed masterpiece (pun intended).

Rating: 5/5!

The Disaster Artist (2017) review

There have been plenty of films that have fallen into the ‘so bad, it’s good’ category, a term used to describe a film that many consider to be entertaining to watch while still acknowledging that it’s not that great of a film. And in 2003, one film ended up becoming arguably the most famous ‘so bad, it’s good’ film of all-time; I’m referring, of course, to The Room, a passion project from writer/director Tommy Wiseau who also starred in the film as the main protagonist Johnny. Upon its initial release, the film was brutally savaged by critics for its incoherent narrative and stilted acting, especially from Wiseau himself. However, in the years since, the film has gained a massive cult following because of all of its strange gaffes. This has mainly been thanks to its numerous midnight screenings in which audiences interact with it a la Rocky Horror Picture Show. But for the uninitiated, one question remains; how exactly did a film like this get made? Well, now we’re getting a firsthand look into all this madness with The Disaster Artist. The film is based primarily off the 2013 autobiography of the same name from Wiseau’s co-star/friend Greg Sestero, as we get to see how these two ended up forming one hell of a bizarre friendship that would end up spawning the film that would define both of their careers. As for the film itself, James Franco directs this look back into the production of the so-called ‘worst film ever made’ while also starring in it as the man, myth, and legend that is Tommy Wiseau alongside his brother Dave in the role of Sestero. What follows is an entertaining and all-around earnest tribute to one of the most notorious films that have ever been made.

In 1998, actor Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) dreams of making it big in Hollywood despite his often failed attempts at landing any major acting gigs. His life soon begins to change, however, when he meets a mysterious man named Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) at an acting class in San Francisco. Despite Greg learning little about Tommy’s background, the two of them begin to connect over their shared dreams of stardom to the point where Greg even moves in with Tommy at his apartment in Los Angeles. However, over the next few years, the two continue to struggle when it comes to finding any work. In response to this, Tommy suggests that they make their own film, an idea which culminates in him writing a screenplay for The Room. In light of several folks in the industry believing that he’s better-suited for villain roles, Tommy casts himself as the main protagonist Johnny. He then proceeds to offer the role of Mark, Johnny’s best friend, to Greg as the two begin to prepare to shoot the film that they hope will be the one to effectively launch their careers. However, as Greg and the rest of the cast and crew of The Room soon find out, Tommy proves to be an extremely abrasive director on set while also making an endless array of questionable filmmaking decisions. And as we all know, this ultimately resulted in a film that, whether they liked it or not, truly did go on to define all of their careers.

At the risk of making a comparison that I know several people have made already, The Disaster Artist is quite similar to Tim Burton’s 1994 biopic Ed Wood. Both films tell the stories of filmmakers who were responsible for what many consider to be some of the worst films ever made. And yet, despite this, they don’t outright demonize their main subject; instead, they celebrate their passion for filmmaking regardless of the quality of the films that they produced. Now, to be clear, this film fully acknowledges how bizarre of a person Tommy Wiseau is. For a film that is quite consistent with its humor, Wiseau’s eccentric lifestyle is where a lot of the film’s best humor comes from. Still, despite both this and the instances where we witness Tommy’s often callous on-set behavior, there are moments in the film where you do genuinely sympathize with him. To his credit, he did manage to get this film made against all odds and away from the studio system (even though it’s still unclear as to how the heck he managed to amass a $6 million budget for the production). Now, granted, I haven’t read The Disaster Artist prior to seeing this film; and from what I’ve heard from those who have read it, the film sort of glosses over some aspects of the production (e.g. some of the more extreme instances of Wiseau’s tyrannical on-set behavior). Still, despite the lack of certain moments from the book, the film still succeeds at being a heartfelt look into everything that went down during The Room’s production. And while it’s not a major focus of this film, the re-creations of classic moments from The Room (e.g. “You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!”) are damn near shot-for-shot.

The Disaster Artist is notably the first instance in which brothers James and Dave Franco have appeared together in a film, and the two do work well together on-screen as they very much succeed in capturing the strange but genuinely loyal friendship that Wiseau and Sestero have. As the film’s director, James Franco does a nice job of maintaining a solid tone throughout that perfectly mixes the film’s humorous moments with its more serious ones. And in the role of Tommy Wiseau, he does a fantastic job of conveying all of Wiseau’s odd behavioral traits; his laugh, his strange accent, etc. Meanwhile, Dave Franco also shines in the role of Greg, who serves as the audience avatar (the film is based on Sestero’s autobiography, after all) while also proving to be quite sympathetic when it comes to his own aspirations as an actor. And as we see in the film, these aspirations of his often affected his friendship with Tommy. Closing out the film’s lead trio is Seth Rogen as Sandy Schklair, the script supervisor (and alleged ‘real director’, but that’s another story…) of The Room. While Greg does often serve as the ‘straight man’ to Tommy’s shenanigans, Schklair serves that purpose in an even greater capacity during the production of The Room, where it’s clear that he was one of the more sensible crew members on set. In other words, this film gives Rogen one of the best ‘straight man’ roles of his career, which he handles excellently.

Now I’ll admit that when it comes to The Room, I wouldn’t really consider myself as being part of its cult fan base. To be clear, prior to seeing this film, I was well-aware of The Room and its wide array of oddities thanks to Doug Walker AKA the Nostalgia Critic’s famous review of it back in 2010. However, it wasn’t until recently when I finally saw the film for myself; and yes, the film is a comedic gold mine despite being such an incoherent mess. But the cool thing about The Disaster Artist is that even if you’re not too familiar with The Room, it’s still a highly appealing film that honors the cult following of its subject matter without relying solely on in-jokes that only fans of the film will recognize. At its core, the film is a heartfelt look into one filmmaker’s struggle to make it big in the film industry, and while it certainly addresses the fact that this filmmaker is a strange person who acted in an extremely oppressive manner during his film’s production, it doesn’t paint him in an entirely negative light. A lot of this is thanks to the strong direction from James Franco, who also does a fantastic job in the role of Tommy Wiseau alongside his brother Dave as Greg Sestero. In short, as noted in this film’s epilogue, when The Room was first released in 2003, Tommy Wiseau paid to have the film stay in theaters for at least two weeks so that it could qualify for that year’s Oscars ceremony. Obviously, it never even came close to that distinction, but now it may finally become a part of Oscars history thanks to The Disaster Artist, a film that many are touting as one of the best films of the year.  

Rating: 4.5/5