The Angry Birds Movie 2 is the Best Video Game Movie Ever Made (By Default)
After the success of The Angry Birds Movie, it was inevitable that a sequel would be made. While it doesn’t contain the kinetics and cinematic gameplay adaptation that made the climax of The Angry Birds Movie so great and fun to watch, The Angry Birds Movie 2 is a funnier sequel than the first one — which makes it the best Video Game adaptation ever made (by default).
After defeating Pig Island, Red (Jason Sudeikis) is glorified as a hero in Bird Island — no longer a “loser”, all by himself. However, the Pig Island leader Leonard (Bill Hader) decides to do a truce, because there is a bigger threat out there, Zeta (Leslie Jones), who lives in Eagle Island — a frozen hellscape as she is hellbent on avenging her heart after Mighty Eagle (Peter Dinklage) didn’t show up at their wedding. She wants to take over Pig and Bird Island for her own resort paradise — and eradicate the population using a SuperWeapon. It’s up to Red and Leonard to put their differences aside and work together to defeat a common enemy, with the aid of Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride) and Silver (Rachel Bloom), whom Red starts having a romantic relationship with.
There’s a lot to like in The Angry Birds Movie 2 — and that starts with its terrific, star-studded cast. Jason Sudeikis continues to excel as Red, as he is the most compelling character of the entire movie. I’m sure many people can relate to Red’s egotism. After being alone for most of his life, he is now declared a hero and everyone in Bird Island loves him. He can get a bit full of himself, because he’s never been loved so much by anyone. I loved the progression he makes from egotistical asshole who’s surely full of himself to pure team player who recognizes the importance of teamwork in dire situations like the Eagle Island attacks. You can’t be full of yourself, or you’ll be risking everyone who’s with you — proper teamwork always wins. I loved how funnier the jokes would get with his character being alone alongside the ever-timely “All by Myself” from Eric Carmen. The supporting voice cast — including a very funny Josh Gad, Danny McBride and Bill Hader are all great, especially during the bit where they disguise themselves with an inflatable Eagle and pretend to be one. The bit is extremely funny, and had the whole audience laughing.
The funniest bits of comedy comes within the form of stupidly childish comedy — that intentionally becomes laugh-out-loud hilarious. I cannot tell you how loudly I laughed when I heard the words “There’s an eagle nearby” or a play on the words “Take them out!” The movie’s comedy is smartly childish, less dumbingly childish like the last one. I think the #1 reason why the movie works as well as it does are how memorable and attaching the characters are, compared to the last film, especially Chuck who gets the funniest laughs. Sure, there’s a bout of millenial jokes like the “dab” which is way past its prime or Baby Shark jokes that will only appease stupid kids who spend too much time on the Internet.
I was also disappointed at how the movie doesn’t end with a battle that is stylized like the Video Game, but instead a Mission: Impossible — esque climax that feels like Super Monkey Ball instead of Angry Birds. Though the climax and some of the ation scenes are fun to watch, I’m missing the slingshot action that made the first movie so fun and imaginative — I’d wish we’d see more of the birds using the slingshots to destroy the superweapon, but alas. The Angry Birds Movie 2 is still a heck of a lot of fun, with great animation (in 3D!), fun action sequences, 95% of the humor works fantastically and a star-studded cast. A subplot involving three hatchlings trying to retreive eggs is pointless, but makes for great relieving comedy. Do yourself a favor and bring the kids to the movie theater, buy a 3D ticket and see The Angry Birds Movie 2 on the biggest screen possible!
✯✯✯½
