LEGO MOVIE 2: The Second Part Brings Back Favorites for Another Epic Adventure

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Mike Mitchell and Warner Bros. is the next adventure for Emmet and the gang with LEGO MOVIE 2: The Second Part.

Five years has passed since Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) and Lucy Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) helped to save Bricksburgh from President Business and the dreaded Kraggle. Trying to keep life going along, the unexpected Lego Duplo invaders have been causing problems to the point that rebuilding is almost impossible creating the new town of Apocalypseburg.

The cause? Finn (Jadon Sand) and sister Bianca (Brooklynn Prince) have different storylines going on in their basement at home. Also Emmet has a dream of the dangerous Our-Mom-Ageddon that will end everything.

Then the landing of General Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) who immediately takes Wyldstyle, Uni-kitty (Alison Brie), MetalBeard (Nick Offerman), Benny (Charlie Day) and Batman (Will Arnett) to meet Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi (Tiffany Haddish) in the Systar System. Upset by the blast off of their friends, Emmet knows he has no choice but to follow.

Flying through space Emmet meets Rex Dangervest who agrees to help him get to the Systar System in order to find his friends. Rex tells Emmet that there is a wedding that must be stopped. Who is getting married? You'll never believe who is putting a ring on the Queen's finger and what will happen if the cake is destroyed.

Emmet realizes that he hasn't been told the truth about the situation especially since in the real world Finn and sister Bianca are fighting amongst themselves and Mom (Maya Rudolph) has decided what is really going to happen. Now the two worlds must come together before Mom puts a lid on it all!

Pratt as both Emmet and Rex are fun to watch play against one another. He has definitely left his mark in this animated series that seems to make everyone so very happy. Emmet is sweet and none of us would have it any other way as being a hero doesn't always require a cape!

Banks as Wyldstyle is still gutsy and doesn't let anything stop her from making things right - even if she has a secret! She wants to rescue her friends and realizes that maybe she has always put to much pressure on Emmet to be anything more than he is.

Arnett as Batman continues to make me laugh and in LEGO 2: The Second Part he gets a chance to expand his romantic chops. Oh lets face it, as Lego Batman Arnett has totally embraced his character (as he absolutely should) and I won't lie that I'd love if he did another Lego film.

Haddish as the Queen is a sassy songstress leader who has a plan but Wyldstyle isn't buying any of her charms. She suspects that there is something else up the Queen's ever changing sleeves. Being royal doesn't mean everything is royally awesome!

Brie as Uni-kitty just wants to be sparkly happy and she kind of likes being in the Systar System, Offerman as MetalBeard does too, especially when the Queen gives him something he's been missing for quite a while, Day as Benny is digging the new world and can't understand why Wyldstyle won't be a part of it.

Other cast includes Will Ferrell as Dad, Richard Ayoade as Ice Cream Cone, Channing Tatum as Superman, Jonah Hill as Green Lantern, Gal Godot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Ike Bvarinholtz as Lex Luthor, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth, Will Forte as Abraham Lincoln, Ben Schwartz as Banarnar, Jimmy O. Yang as Zebe and Bruce Willis as…well…Bruce Willis.

LEGO MOVIE 2: The Second Part is a lot of fun, especially for those who are big fans of Legos, the Lego movie franchise or just looking for some awesome laughs and adventure this weekend in the theatre.

There are plenty of laughs, a story that takes us into another solar system, new characters and toe tapping brain staying songs. Haddish is going to be responsible for getting one particular ditty stuck in our heads for a while.

So gather up your own Lego family and head to the theatre starting Friday for an out of this world clickingly good time adventure with Emmet and the entire gang.

In the end - the awesome universe is expanding!

Puppets take over THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS

Jeri Jacquin

Well heck, this isn’t exactly your ordinary puppet/human film and that’s okay with me. In theatres this Friday from director Brian Henson and STX Entertainment comes a story of a partnership to beat them all with THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS.

Phil Philips (voiced by Bill Barretta) is a private detective who was once the first puppet to ever become a cop with the LAPD. After an incident that still haunts him, Phil is happy working for himself. Answering his calls is his very dependable and devoted secretary Bubbles (Maya Rudolph).

One day a very lushly stuffed red-head named Sandra (Dorien Davies) comes to Phil’s office and asks him to investigate who might be black mailing her. Phil agrees and begins checking out a clue when he quickly becomes sidetracked when a group of puppets are cut down with fluff flying everywhere!

Arriving to investigate is Detective Connie Edwards (Melissa McCarthy) and she is none to happy to see Phil. Edwards and Philips were once partners and because of her testimony he lost his badge. Exchanging unpleasantries, Lt. Banning (Leslie Baker) lets them both know they will be teaming up once again to solve the crime.

Phil drowns his grumpiness by visiting his brother Larry (Victor Yerrid) who found success on television in a show called The Happytime Gang. Lulled into changing himself a little to fit into society, Phil doesn’t know how lucky he is until Larry is attacked.

Now Edwards and Philips begin to see a pattern that the entire cast of The Happytime Gang are in danger. Included in that is Philips first love Jenny (Elizabeth Banks), a dancer who became the only human on his brother’s show.

Putting their differences aside, they work piecing together the clues one by one but always seem to be on step behind the person responsible for the puppet mayhem. When FBI Agent Campbell (Joel McHale) shows up, he tries to shut them down but these two cork screwy crime fighters aren’t about to let anything get in their way.

Where the clues lead them changes everything!

McCarthy as Detective Edwards gives her usual witty, snappy and very funny performance as a cop with a few secret problems. The adversarial relationship with Phil Philips wasn’t always the case and speaking of cases – they are going to have to put their animosity on hold to get the job done. McCarthy doesn’t mess a beat delivering her lines with the timing that makes me proud to be a smart ass.

Baretta voicing Phil Philips is very noir detective telling his story with a cigarette in one hand and a bag load of attitude in the other. There doesn’t seem to be anything this puppet can’t do, and I mean that in every sense and when my jaw isn’t hitting the floor I’m rolling in laughter. Bouncing off McCarthy, these two are perfect for one another.

Rudolph as Bubbles is devoted to her private detective boss and there isn’t anything she won’t do for him. When he is seen as a suspect, Bubbles makes darn sure that Edwards does what’s right to help make it all right. Rudolph is cutsie and also very noir with her pin curl hair and red nails.

Banks as Jenny is a burlesque dancer who seems happy when Philips walks through the door again. Remembering the moments they spent together, both puppet and long legged human are clear that something is wrong. Banks gives a carrot dance performance that had the audience cracking up.

McHale as Agent Campbell is just a man who clearly isn’t playing with a full deck and power hungry at the same time. I love when McHale tries to get tough in these roles and keep a straight face doing it. Baker as Lt. Banning just wants the case solved and putting the ex-partners together is the way to do it.

Other cast include Drew Massey as Goofer, Ted Michaels as Ezra, Colleen Smith as Cara, Alice Dinnea as Sheila and Donna Kimball as Diane.

Look, THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS is just a disturbingly hilarious film that pushes every button to get a reaction and they succeeded. The audience was cheering, laughing, grossed out, groaning, smacking their foreheads, clapping and just having a great time.

This isn’t a film that needs to be analyzed or scrutinized but instead just go and have fun. Yes the humor pushed the comedy bar up, down, sideways and slant ways like a Wonka-vater but who doesn’t love that? I wanted to take a dirty puppet film ride down the slippery slopes of good taste and right into a mud hole – and that’s exactly what happened.

THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS is just a romp – it’s as simple as that – with touches of outrageousness and moments that can never be erased from your memory. The same could be said of many films but they didn’t make me laugh as much as this one does. Yep, I have a twisted sense of humor and am damn proud of it.

In the end – they are no sesame and all street!

A Second Chance at College and Being LIFE OF THE PARTY

Jeri Jacquin

The hilarious minds of Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone are at it again along with Warner Bros. for another chance at being LIFE OF THE PARTY.

Deanna (Melissa McCarthy) and husband Dan (Matt Walsh) are dropping off daughter Maddie (Molly Gordon) for her final year at college. Excited about their upcoming trip to Italy, Deanna is thrown a curve pizza when Dan announces 50 feet from the dorm steps that he wants a divorce.

Deanna is thrown to learn that he has been having a fling with a real estate agent named Marci (Julie Bowen). Going to her own parents, Sandi (Jackie Weaver) and Mike (Stephen Root), they argue sandwiches and not finishing college. That’s when Deanna makes a decision that needs one other persons input – daughter Maddie.

Deanna announces that she is going back to school to finish the last year and get her degree in archeology. Maddie is happy but uneasy about sharing the college life with her mother. Thrilled for her is bestie Christine (Maya Rudolph) and Maddie’s friends Amanda (Adria Arjona), Debbie (Jessie Ennis) and Helen (Gillian Jacobs).

Moving into the dorm, roommate Leonor (Heidi Gardner) is a little Goth and a little sunshine deprived. Immediately, Maddie and the girls decide that Deanna needs to experience a college party. After a quick change of appearance she meets Jack (Luke Benward) and wakes to the morning walk of shame.

Quickly Deanna gets into the groove of studying, being part of the girls’ lives and occasionally meeting up with Jack. Keeping Christine informed of her antics, she learns that ex-hubby Dan is already making plans to get remarried. Leave it to the girls to make sure that she doesn’t spend that day alone but after a few party favors they take their act on the reception road.

That sets into motion the news that Deanna doesn’t have the money to finish college. Of course needing a reason to have a party in college isn’t a required but this might be the exception!

McCarthy as Deanna is sweet, charming, motherly and a tad embarrassing but don’t let that fool you when it comes to being protective. She has her ways of making sure that no one changes who she wants to be so don’t let the curls fool you. McCarthy delivers comedy that is so relatable and, in fact, the character of Deanna is someone we all know. Well, maybe not the tacky sweaters but the situation of loving being a wife and mother until you realize one of those wasn’t real. McCarthy is a gal I’d love to hang out with. Plan to laugh at the movie – A LOT!

Rudolph as Christine is the best partner-in-crime to have and will take a body shot while still loving you. Living a tad vicariously through Deanna, Christine doesn’t have it so bad at home. I mean any husband who gets hot about his middle aged wife in ankle socks doesn’t have much to complain about in life. Rudolph is funny and another chick I’d love to hang out with.

Gordon as Maddie isn’t completely thrilled to discover Mom is going to share her final year of college. Once seeing her friends are on board with it, Maddie knows Mom isn’t trying to take anything from her. Jacobs as Helen is a big disturbing and completely hilarious. Ennis as Debbie and Arjona as Amanda completely love having Deanna around. Benward as Jack loves having Deanna around for completely different reasons!

Gardner as Leonor is completely misunderstood but takes a ninja-like liking to her dorm mate. Weaver as Mom Sandi just wants everyone to have a sandwich and Dad Mike just wants to shoot Dan – typical parents.

Walsh as Dan is a dude who is literally being led around by his – ummm – earring. Bowen as Marci is a woman who demands control of every aspect of her life and her soon-to-be-husbands as well. Jones as Christine’s husband Frank goes along to get along!

Other cast includes Sarah Baker as Gildred, Nax Faxon as Lance, Shannon Purser as Connie, Chris Parnell as Mr. Truzack, Debbie Ryan as Jennifer, Jimmy O. Yang as Tyler, Leli Hernandez as Mia, Yani Simone as Trina, Damon Jones as Frank, Michele Jang as Linda, Chris Cavalier as Eugene, Christina Aguilera and Ben Falcone as the Uber Driver.

LIFE OF THE PARTY is completely hysterical, full of surprises and loaded with charm and oh so much fun. I would expect nothing less from McCarthy and Falcone who seem to just embrace the silliness of life. The cast is just perfect lending their own unique characters to a loaded film of funny. This film is perfect for the Mother’s Day weekend coming up because, well, we love our Mom’s.

This is a wonderful way to celebrate the day with a bunch of flowers, brunch and then off to the movies to spend quality time having a few giggles together. I have a sneaking suspicion I’m going to have to see the film again because there were times I was laughing so hard I missed a line or two. LIFE OF THE PARTY is a film I absolutely won’t mind seeing again and again.

In the end – give life the old college try!

THE NUT JOB 2 Nutty By Nature Brings Family Fun and Giggles on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from writer/director Cal Brunker and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment comes the next nutty adventure with THE NUT JOB 2 Nutty By Nature.

Surly (Will Arnett) is back with Andie (Katherine Heigl), and Precious (Maya Rudolph), Buddy and the group is living and dining in a nut shop. Andie isn’t happy about it trying to tell them all that this isn’t how squirrels are suppose to live. Believing they should be working together, they have to when the nut shop closes with a bang.

Back at the park Andie explains that they must get back to nature and collect their own food. That might be difficult as Mayor Muldoon (Bobby Moynihan) is the city scrooge who wants to make money by trying to find a way to close Liberty park where the squirrels now live. Surly convinces the group, much to Andie’s dismay, to fight the Mayor for their park.

Mole (Jeff Dunham), Jimmy (Gabriel Iglesias), Gunther (Peter Stormare), and Johnny (Sebastian Maniscalco) join Surly and Andie to chase the workers out of the park. Canine Frankie (Bobby Cannavale) is sent to clear the park but instead falls instantly in love with Precious. The Mayor’s daughter decides she wants to keep Precious but moving up isn’t always a good thing.

Surly tries to find Precious but instead finds a cute little psycho mouse in Mr. Feng (Jackie Chan). Andie finds another local park that is huge she is excited about their new home until smacked by a golf ball. Tired of all the worry and fuss, the gang comes together once more time to make a stand to stop the Mayor’s plans from ruining their home. Surly calls in an unlikely army to make sure their plan unites the city and park animals.

It’s a nutty job but they’ve just got to do it!

Arnett returns as Surly giving us the carefree squirrel who isn’t about to let a silly Mayor and his psycho daughter change his lifestyle. Heigl as Andie is the straight forward no-nonsense squirrel of the group who just wants to be the furry creature nature intended.

Rudolph as Precious comes in with her slobbery lovely self and finds that none of that matters to Frankie the love struck bulldog. Cannavale as Frankie just wants to show some love and learns to see another side of life.

Moynihan as the Mayor can only think of money and how to make more of it all while handling a crazy daughter. Speaking of crazy daughter, shout out to Moner as Heather who needs serious anger management classes!

Dunham, Inglesias, Stormare and Maniscalco round out the park kingdom nicely. Adding Chan as Mr. Feng as a cute (don’t say cute!) city mouse with a gang that that may look er, um, sweet but don’t let the big eyes fool you.

Other voice cast include Isabela Moner as Heather, Kari Wahlgren as Jamie, Julie Lemieux as Lil’ Chip, and Rob Tinkler as Redline.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us all to experience and re-experience in our own home theatres. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

THE NUT JOB 2 Nutty By Nature is so much fun and a bit, well, nutty! It is a story of the animal world taking back what is there’s by joining together to prove they might just be a little smarter than we think. The animation is absolutely stunning with such detail that always amazes me. The flow of the fur is just mesmerizing actually.

The relationship between Surly and Buddy is so endearing without Buddy ever saying a word. Their friendship is based on a history that the film reveals in such a touching way. Andie is who I would call the ‘mother’ figure always watching out for the animals and wanting to keep them safe. She is funny in her break out of song too!

The pairing of Precious with Frankie is just so dang cute I can’t stand it. Precious may be rough and tough but Frankie brings out the soft side. Now, the city cute wide eyed mice led by Mr. Feng are hilarious.

THE NUT JOB 2 Nutty By Nature has fantastic Bonus Features including Deleted Scenes, Animation Progression Reels, Concept Art Reel, and Feature Commentary with Director/Co-Writer Cal Brunker and Producer/Co-Writer Bob Barlen. Also included with a Digital copy of the film that can be streamed and downloaded on your computer, television, Tablet or Smartphone.

You will never see the park in same way again so gather the family and grab a bag of nuts to celebrate the new adventure of the animal world with THE NUT JOB 2 Nutty By Nature.

In the end – get ready, get set, get nuts!