Attack the Block was a terrific science fiction/horror/comedy that pitted chavs against aliens and absolutely delivered on all fronts, establishing Joe Cornish as a true firebrand. So it's a little disappointing that we had to wait so long for his next film, The Kid Who Would Be King. Did it deliver? For the most part, yeah. It's not as good as Attack the Block, but it takes that films pleasing genre savviness and blends it with both joyous whimsy and a fairly impressive political edge, one that asks the audience what world they're leaving behind for future generations. That it does this so well while also being able to have fun with itself is another testament to Cornish's deft style of filmmaking. The film takes some well worn Arthurian legends and gives them a really fun, fresh, modern update that never cheapens their impact, or makes them feel like a gimmick, instead mirroring these stories with a coming of age tale that's well written, sharp, and acknowledges the mythology in a way that feels natural and clever. The film is one with real heart, and optimism, and feels genuinely impressive in an endless sea of King Arthur stories.
It's definitely not without issues, though. It feels way too long and suffers from poor pacing, with stretches between the plot points where not an awful lot happens. The writing is charming enough to keep the film engaging when this does happen, but the film becomes so jarring when the swiftness of the plot suddenly stops for a few minutes that definitely could have been cut. That long windedness is a shame, too because that time could have been much better spent developing the villain. It's not that Morgana is bad or anything, I actually think that Rebecca Ferguson is really good in this role and provides a pretty menacing presence, but it's just that she never seems to have enough to do, spending most of the film sitting around being nasty. It's here that the film really stumbles, which is a shame, because when it's good, it's really, really good. The Kid Who Would Be King isn't perfect, but you'll forgive it when it does slip up because it's just too fun not to enjoy. It has a real sense of charm that make it's noticeable issues forgivable. It's no Attack the Block, but after eight years, it'll do nicely
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Franchise fatigue can be a serious issue. Sequels are tough enough already, but if you spin off enough, even the best follow up can feel like more of the same. So it's to the credit of The Lego Movie 2 that it actually provides a worthwhile follow up to the original. Which is damn impressive when you consider just how fresh and fun that first movie felt. Even though this is the fourth Lego film we've gotten in almost as many years, it's safe to say that these guys haven't quite run out of steam just yet, delivering a movie that's definitely still awesome. I guess the best thing here is that it's an entirely different beast to the first one, which is mostly down to the fact that it's not just playing out in the head of the boy, but in his sister's head too. The way the story-within-a-story is able to explore the relationship between these two characters so well without ever bogging itself down with over explanation is a true testament to the writing here, and the fact that it's also a story about the power of idealism is even better. The idea that growing up means putting away your optimism is one that this movie is keen on discussing, and discusses it well, with Emmett getting a character arc that's actually really engaging. The way the film approaches the idea of cynicism vs. idealism is deft and clever, yes, but also wholesome, satisfying, and hell, even kind of important. It's intelligent, but it's always good natured, and as a result, feels genuinely special in the way that few family films these days can muster.
Of course, being a film in this series, it's also hilarious, with the knowing meta-comedy that made the others so damn fun on full display here. The pop culture references come quick in The Lego Movie 2, with many of them being absolutely hilarious (that recurring Bruce Willis cameo might just be one of the funniest things I've seen in these movies). That balance of smarts and heart is once again crucial to making this film work, but the writing here is so deft that it manages to be both sweet and funny, and always entertaining. It was never going to be easy to follow the Lego Movie, but this sequel actually does it well, playing out like an odd combination of Toy Story and Community that's gonna be hard to top as animated film of the year. In a word? Awesome.
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