The second installment of the Lego Movie franchise tried to capture the same whimsy and humor as its predecessor but falls short in many categories. While there were many merits of the film, it ultimately did not reach the same standard.

What worked for the original Lego Movie was the fact that it was a new idea—it was the first in its genre. However, now, Warner Bros. has saturated the market with similar films. It is impossible to manufacture the same joy into each of the movies. They begin to feel formulaic.

Besides this, “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” does stand out in the category of family movies. While the plot was slower than the previous film, this allowed it to be easier to follow. There were twists and surprises throughout the film, but the filmmakers did a great job foreshadowing what was to come without being too blunt. They played on the idea of the hero’s quest but spun it on its head.

The star-studded cast did not disappoint. The enthusiasm of main character Emmet (Chris Pratt) forces the audience to root for him through his journey; even through the screen, his optimism is infectious. His love interest’s journey, however, stands out the most through the film. Lucy (Elizabeth Banks) is forced to understand some uncomfortable truths about growing up. While her perspective shifts dramatically from the beginning to the end of the movie, I appreciated the character development even more because the audience was able to follow her path. The supporting cast holds their own as well with big names such as Will Arnett, Tiffany Haddish and Alison Brie voicing Batman, Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi and Unikitty, respectively.

One thing I did not expect from this LEGO sequel was the music. I would classify this as an animated musical with the sheer amount of songs tucked into the movie. It caught me off guard initially, but I was not necessarily angry with the decision. While there were no songs that I looked up later to listen to again, I did find myself humming a few of them to myself later that day.

Another thing I appreciated with the movie was the themes it explored. The “Lego Movie 2” tackled important topics including gender roles, adolescence and the importance of family. The film did a good job addressing the idea of growing up in a candid and refreshed manner. At its core, this is a feel-good movie.

As a whole, this film only suffered due to the high expectations set by the previous movies in the saga. It remains a wholesome film that is great for families. I would recommend this movie as a way to detach oneself from the real world and just relax for an hour. While it seemed cheesy at times, “The Lego Movie 2” was a perfect escape from reality filled with witty humor, bright colors and nostalgia.

6 out of 10 stars. PG. 107 minutes