The ongoing battle between the birds of Bird Island and the pigs of Pig Island has dwindled to more of a one-upmanship rivalry, if not a friendly one since last we saw them. However, the two groups have to team up against a new, mysterious threat.
At the end of the first Angry Birds, Red (Jason Sudeikis) and his gang of heroes, including Chuck (voiced by Josh Gad) and Bomb (voiced by Danny McBride), saved everyone’s eggs from being eaten by the pigs. Since then, they seem content just to volley attacks at each other from island to island via slingshots. The “attacks” seem more like pranks. Immediately, it comes off as competition rather than anger. It seems, for the most part, the birds have let it slide the fact the pigs tried to eat their babies. As audience members, I think we’re supposed to let it slide or forget it too since the pigs end up being part of the main group of good guys in this second outing. Another thing the audience seems to be asked to forget is the distance between Bird and Pig Islands. In the first movie, the birds didn’t even know the pigs existed. This time, they’re close enough to see each other with periscopes.
Regardless of things we aren’t supposed to think about, a new, mobile island shows up that can shoot giant ice balls out of its semi-defunct volcano. The inhabitants of this island are all eagles. On bird island, there’s just the one eagle, Mighty Eagle (voiced by Peter Dinklage). Leading this band of villainous eagles is new character Zeta (voiced by Leslie Jones) and Debbie (voiced by Tiffany Haddish). Zeta wants to take over both islands to get off of her own, frozen island.
Red and crew must team with pig leader, Leonard (voiced by Bill Hader) and other bird newcomer, Silver (voiced by Rachel Bloom). Silver also happens to be Chuck’s sister. All these guys band together to stop Zeta and save both of their respective islands.
The movie is pretty fast-paced as it’s filled with action throughout. The setup of the movie presents itself as kind of a heist movie, which each team member getting a cool code name. Chuck, for example, gets the name “Speed Demon” while Silver gets “The Brains”. They have to sneak undetected onto Zeta’s island and put a stop to her deadly ice bombing weapon.
Naturally, all doesn’t go according to plan or easily, and that’s where the actual laugh out loud comedy really strikes. My wife went with us to see this and wasn’t a huge fan of the first movie. In spite of her low expectations, she laughed out loud more times than I could count.
Besides the action and comedy, the movie managed to also hang on to the heart it had in the first part. Red was angry in the first movie. Hence the movie’s name. He was angry, though, because everyone ignored him. He was lonely. That’s one element of the first movie, the writers thankfully didn’t forget. Red is revered as a hero after saving the eggs in the first movie. He loves the attention and desperately craves for it to not end. So, he tries too hard. Way to hard. Part of his character arc in this one is to learn that people actually do like him and that he should let those people help him instead of trying to do everything all by himself.
It’s a good message and done pretty well. Many times, in animated movies, the message is heavy handedly thrown in your face. While you see the message from a mile away, it’s achieved sweetly enough, you won’t mind a bit.
The movie is quick-paced fun that kids and adults should both enjoy. It’s hysterically funny, action-packed, and has enough heart to let you squeeze an “aww” or two in between your laughter.
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