The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
Back in 2014, The LEGO Movie took cinema-going audiences by surprise and by storm as it charmed and endeared everyone. It was the one of the first things to prop up Chris Pratt toward the superstardom he’d garner that following summer with Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel as the lovable space-idiot hot shot Star Lord. This movie launched a LEGO brand of theatrical releases to hot and cold successes with LEGO Batman Movie and LEGO Ninjago that hit and missed financially. And now here we are with the Second Part of the first film which you can pick up on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray when it arrives May 7th.
Film 
The citizens of Bricksburg face a dangerous new threat when LEGO DUPLO invaders from outer space start to wreck everything in their path. The battle to defeat the enemy and restore harmony to the LEGO universe takes Emmet, Lucy, Batman and the rest of their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds that test their courage and creativity.
Not to sound wild and outrageous, but there was a 1-time magic that came with the first LEGO movie. That’s part of WHY it was so well received and such a little phenomenon. Nobody was expecting anything of that film, let alone for it to be as hilarious and endearing to all ages as it was. Yet another bad idea made into greatness by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. But that magic was also a one-time kind of magic that really is pretty impossible to replicated.
The second LEGO movie isn’t a bad film at all. Its quite entertaining, funny and surprises in having moments that do reach the quality of the first film again. However, the mask is off, the curtain dropped. We know everything going on behind it now. No twist or turn will be as remarkable as the last time. In fact, this time around, it becomes a ticking clock of predictability that holds on far too long. That’s probably more for the adult minds that the children, though.
And I sound like I’m being harsh and calling this film a disappointment. Its not at all. They actually keep the terrific humor up to speed and manage to produce the perfect companion song to “Everything Is Awesome” in the movie. Two things that are hard enough to do. But know going in that this one is just a solid family comedy as opposed to something of a generational touchstone and pop culture landmark that the first film was.
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part had impossible expectations going in thanks to the surprise success and adoration of the original film. It manages to accomplish a lot and be successful in its own right while not being able to put the curtain back up and take it down again. Not all sequels top originals, but those that don’t aren’t bad either. This is a solid bit of fun and good comedy for all.
Video
Encoding: HEVC / H.265
Resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Layers: BD-66
Clarity/Detail: The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part features an image upscaled to 4K from a 2K digital intermediate. Like a lot of 4K titles, this appears dimmer on the surface than its Blu-ray counterpart. There is noticeable a sharper image with a bit more attention to detail and color saturation throughout. Blacks come on much more strong as well with less data hidden and a smoother time showcasing it. Overall its a very solid step up from the Blu-ray for an animated film
Depth: Given the animation type, this lends itself to a nice 3-dimensional look with a solid depth of field on display. Movements are of that sort of stop-motion type and the human character move naturally and cinematic. No motion distortions occur.
Black Levels: Blacks are deep and natural, featuring good attention to spacing and creating nifty tones and shades in “outer space”. No crushing witnessed.
Color Reproduction: Colors are pretty strong with good solid LEGO yellows of course. The color palette here is pretty unlimited even if the LEGOs all feature really prime solid coloring. HDR comes into good effect with very neon things and bright lights and lasers.
Flesh Tones: The live action scenes have natural skin tones with consistency throughout. Facial features are pretty clear and discernible from any given reasonable distance.
Noise/Artifacts: Clean
Audio
Audio Format(s): English Dolby Atmos, English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, German 5.1 DTS-HD MA, German Descriptive Audio, Italian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Croation 5.1 Dolby Digital, Czech 5.1 Dolby Digital, Danish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Finnish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Russian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Norwegian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Polish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Slovak 5.1 Dolby Digital, Swedish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Turkish 5.1 Dolby Digital,
Subtitles: English SDH, French, German SDH, Italian SDH, Spanish, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Russian, Norwegian, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Svenska, Turkish
Dynamics: The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part has a wonderful and engaging Atmos track that really fires off and relishes in the format quite well. Its playful and also very deep and hits plenty hard which enhances the experience of the film. Effects and voice are also pretty well mixed with a good touch of layering and depth to add some nice realism to the film’s audio presentation.
Height: This track is a natural when it comes to inclusion from the ceiling speaker. Ships fly over, debris and even musical contributions for the song performances in the film get in on the action.
Low Frequency Extension: LEGO 2 gets really deep here in its presentation and truly pounds with both its action and the bass hits of the music in the film.
Surround Sound Presentation: This tracks wanders and plays throughout all channels in the room. The motion rolls naturally and just feels crisp, loose and fully realized while also not being afraid to be playful.
Dialogue Reproduction: Vocals are very clear and crisp and the mix has them feeling natural in any given environment.
Extras
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part comes with the Blu-ray edition and a digital copy of the film. Aside from the commentary, all bonus materials are found on the standard Blu-ray disc.
Audio Commentary
- By Director Mike Mitchell, Writers/Producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and Animation Director Trisha Gum
Everything Is Awesome Sing-Along
They Come In Pieces: Assembling THE LEGO MOVIE 2 (HD, 8:49) – A rather brief run through, talking the success of the first film, how Chris Pratt approached voicing 2 characters and some of the design focus for the new characters and terrain. Features Lord & Miller, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Tiffany Haddish, Trisha Gum and Mike Mitchell.
Emmet’s Holiday Party: A LEGO Movie Short (HD, 2:43) – A prequel of sorts to the film where Emett tries to throw a Holiday party in the Apocalypseburg
Outtakes & Deleted Scenes (HD, 12:22)
“Super Cool”: Official Lyric Version (HD, 3:29)
Promotional Material – These feature all kinds of random places the movie would advertise, like the theater and one on set building as well as a LEGO building contest.
- In 2019 Be Whatever You Wanna Be (HD, :43)
- Me and My Minifig (HD, 3:00)
- Please Silence Your Cell Phones (HD, :55)
- LEGO Sets In Action (HD, 2:17)
- LEGO Designers (HD, 3:30)
Summary
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part understandably can’t live up to what the first one was, but I think it admirably keeps the ship afloat. At best its a nice closing chapter to it all if it wants to be and gives you a solid follow up to the “cliff hanger” (Merely a comedic ending meant for laughs, but audiences don’t seem to understand those) the first one had. Warner Brothers produces a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release for it with the best presentation available, though feels a bit light and fluffy with the extras. Its a solid film and this is the best way to own it.
