The Angry Birds Movie 2 (U)

Director: Thurop Van Orman

Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Danny McBride, Josh Gad, Bill Hader, Peter Dinklage, Leslie Jones, Rachel Bloom, Awkwafina, Dove Cameron, Tiffany Haddish and Nicki Minaj

Run time: 1h 37m

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Based on the phenomenally successful mobile phone game of the same name, The Angry Birds return in a sequel to 2016’s hit animation. Surely I’m not the only one that thinks it should’ve been called The Angry Birds Movie 2: Fly Harder…

Some time has flown by since Red (Sudeikis), Chuck (Gad), Bomb (McBride) and their feathered friends rescued more than a baker’s dozen worth of eggs from the evil Leonard (Hader) and his piggy pals, but their war continues as they batter each other’s island with a bizarre assortment of improvised weapons. Red is still hailed as a hero though his friend’s attempts to find him a mate, to ease his loneliness, does nothing but ruffle his feathers.

Meanwhile, nesting away on a mysterious third island is Zeta (Jones), an eagle with a grudge. Tired of her existence in a frozen wilderness, she hatches a fowl plan determined to usurp the birds and pigs from their homes so she can roost in her own tropical paradise. Reluctantly Red, Leonard and their gangs must team up to save their bacon from the new threat in an Ocean’s Eleven style montage in one of many nods to other films. This temporary truce causes Red to question his purpose in proceedings and forces him to face his fears.

https://youtu.be/RSKQ-lVsMdg

Adding their vocal talents to the established cast are Rachel Bloom, Leslie Jones and Awkwafina and it’s the ensemble’s perfect chemistry that brings the script to life with energy and style. Swiftly moving through a succession of set-pieces, the pace rarely drops as Red learns the importance of teamwork and that sometimes even the strongest need a helping hand, rather than winging it.

Using a couple of fist-pumping 80’s soft rock tunes and featuring some very funny moments of slap-stick including a truly memorable visit to the bathroom and an explosively revealing dance-off, The Angry Birds Movie 2 soars with charming ease, a fluttering of fun and makes this movie a real beaky blinder.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 lands in UK cinemas on Friday 2nd August 2019.

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