‘Angry Birds' Can't Fly, But This Sequel Stays Aloft

It’s hard to have huge expectations for a movie called “The Angry Birds Movie 2.” After all, it’s not even a movie based on a smartphone game. It’s a SEQUEL to a movie based on a smartphone game.

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But now that we’ve established that nobody’s expecting Ingmar Bergman here, let’s offer up some praise for this sequel-to-a-movie based-on-a-smartphone-game, for finding a way to actually improve on the 2016 original in a way that’s clever but not snarky, sweet but not syrupy.

Because regardless of its perhaps pedestrian origins (these non-flying birds ARE pedestrians, actually) the movie, directed by Thurop Van Orman, reminds us that finding a formula to appeal to both kids and parents for 90-odd minutes isn’t rocket science. All you need is some appealing characters, some famous voices, a message with heart, and, crucially, some good jokes.

Oh, and potty references. Unfortunately, kids still really like those.

If you haven’t seen the last film, and haven’t even played the game (in which case, kudos for all the time you’ve saved), let’s a recap. Our action takes place on two islands — Bird Island, home to the titular angry birds, and Piggy Island, home to the green pigs, who in the last movie stole — and came frighteningly close to eating — Bird Island’s precious eggs. In other words, its future offspring. But let’s not dwell on that.