The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

Even if it never quite recaptures the full magic of the original, it's hard to be disappointed with The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part which turns out to be a pretty darn good sequel. The second time around, there's plenty of zany awesomeness with the return of Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt), Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), and Batman (Will Arnett). And the script by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller also throws in a nice message for kids and families about sharing and acceptance and a new adventure which was foreshadowed at the end of the original LEGO Movie. Oh, and there's a spaceship piloted by Velociraptors.

The arrival of a dangerous new invader to the LEGO world (toys from the younger sister of the previous movie's mostly-unseen master of bricks) has pushed Emmett and his friends into a dystopian future (which produces one of the most interesting LEGO sets ever made). When Lucy, Batman, Unikitty (Alison Brie), MetalBeard (Nick Offerman), and Benny (Charlie Day) are abducted by an agent of Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi (Tiffany Haddish), it falls on Emmett and his new friend Rex Dangervest (also voiced by Pratt) to save the day.

Like most sequels, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part offers the return of the original cast, a couple of new stand-out characters, and a story that goes bigger while still staying true to the original message of the first film. Those who were a bit disappointed with how clean The LEGO Batman Movie looked will be put at ease as this sequel has settled back on the more textural stop-motion feel of The LEGO Movie. And although it's new catchy song isn't quite as awesome, no doubt kids (and plenty of parents) may be humming it while strolling out of the theaters.