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The Rampant Rise Of Meta-Humor And THE LEGO MOVIE 2

Rampant Rise of Meta Humor

There is a scene during The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part in which a new character by the name of Rex Dangervest (voiced by Chris Pratt) enters the scene and singlehandedly saves our lead protagonist, Emmet, through the use of a device that teleports the two away from the perilous “Duplo” toys. In the midst of this last-minute escape, Rex comically refers to this convenient tool as his trusty “plot device.”

This line is just one of many instances in The Lego Movie 2 in which the film points out its own fictional nature, as the character of Rex, an obvious amalgamation of Pratt’s most iconic action roles, serves as a wink to the audience regarding the actor’s shift in trajectory from genial comedies to blockbuster action adventures. The collective layers of the film being aware of its presence in the real world, as well as consciously pointing out its own shortcomings, are a prime example of the growing trend of meta-humor in stories.

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THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART – Everything is Still Awesome

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(3 / 4)

Familiar plotting prevents The Lego Movie 2 from reaching the creative heights of its predecessor, however, the introduction of welcome new characters and razor sharp meta humor make this all-out war between childhood and adulthood a more than worthy follow up.

In 2014, seemingly out of nowhere, The Lego Movie stormed onto the scene and proved with its surprise success that it could be just as viable of a brand as Disney or Dreamworks animation. However, lackluster reception from the previous entry, Lego Ninjago, combined with a downward trend at the box office has quickly put the viability of this colorful franchise into question. It’s clear from The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part that returning writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are not giving up on this franchise, as they have assembled a sequel every bit the vibrantly fun shot in the arm that the original was now with the clever addition of children’s “Duplo” toys as the villains.

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ALL THESE SMALL MOMENTS: A Tender Coming-Of-Age Dramedy

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Over the past few years there has been an abundance of riches as it concerns coming-of-age teen dramas. Unlike recent genre entries such as Love, Simon with its aims of inclusion and Eighth Grade with its commentary on the influence of social media’s role on teens, All These Small Moments goes back to basics, foregoing a contemporary hook completely. The film, however, possesses an uncommon honesty in its exploration of timeless themes related to growing up as we examine a young man and his unconventional infatuation with a woman in her 30’s.

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Why THE HOLIDAY Is The Perfect Embodiment Of The Christmas Rom-Com Craze

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After 12 years, Nancy Meyers’ frothy escapist film remains the golden Christmas rom-com benchmark that others attempt to emulate.

In recent years, Christmas-themed love stories have increasingly proliferated on the small screen, mostly from the likes of Hallmark and Lifetime during November and December. With streaming giant Netflix now throwing their Santa hat into the ring with a slew of romantic comedy offerings such as The Holiday Calendarand A Christmas Prince, the question of why this type of predictable, cookie-cutter story is so popular with viewers naturally arises.

One has to look no further than 2006’s The Holiday to understand why this genre has grown exponentially over the last few years.

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