Way back in 2014, the world was gifted the original LEGO Movie. A fundamental staple of many childhoods and collectors, the iconic building blocks have been used to tell many stories in the comfort of homes. The LEGO Movie captured a particular type of magic with an imaginative world of Master Builders where multiple franchises and genres co-existed in a strange delicate harmony. The journey of everyman Emmett Brickowski into grand heroics aided by characters like Wyldstyle, an infinitely more competent character, and Lego Batman, arguably one of the best depictions of the character ever (DARKNESS. NO PARENTS.), touched on generational differences and what it meant to create stories.

If there was one critique I had in hindsight, it would be that the film was highly male-centric and had only three women in the principal voice cast. LEGOs are a ubiquitous toy for everyone, so this type of old-school bias lingered after the abundant joy started to fade. It was something I hoped Phil Lord and Christopher Miller would address in the inevitable sequel.

So, here we are five years later. The good news is that Elizabeth Banks (Wyldstyle/Lucy) and Alison Brie (Unikitty) have been joined by Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, Maya Rudolph, and Margot Robbie. The strange news is that they somehow managed to give us more Chris Pratt. I don’t know whether that’s a good or a bad thing (I’m still mad at Starlord for Infinity Wars).

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part follows Emmet and Lucy living in a post-apocalyptic Bricksburg after the events of the original that let the Duplo invaders into the basement. Emmet is happy-go-lucky as ever, even though the rest of the residents are catching up to the gritty reboot phrase that has plagued the 2010s. Before long, Emmet has to face facts when Lucy and other Master Builds are kidnapped by General Sweet Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) and taken to Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi (Tiffany Haddish). Emmett has to team up with Rex Dangervest, a Galaxy Defending Archaeologist Cowboy Raptor Trainer, to save his friends.

The animation looks as crisp as always. The visual gags and wordplay are still incredibly clever and bring a smile to your face. The movie promises to bring the same upbeat, optimistic energy that made the original so beloved. I’m genuinely excited to see this movie with its unique set pieces and family friendly beats. The additions to the cast are welcome, more time spent in Bricksburg is always a good thing, and the expansion of the universe to include the Sis-tar System adds extra dimensions to already multi-dimensional films. I guess I just hope that Chris Pratt doesn’t take too much screen time now that he’s working for two.

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Parts comes to a theater near you February 8, 2019.

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