Movie Review
In a rare case of studios actually listening to their fan base, Sonic was later redesigned and released in theaters to pretty good reception from audiences. Critics maybe not so much, but as a massive fan of Sonic the Hedgehog (who collected many issues of Sonic the Hedgehog and played all the games), the first movie paid homage to the blue hedgehog. It wasn't amazing, but it was a fun ride for families with both kids and adults leading up to the hyperactive blue hedgehog.
Fast forward to 2022, and with Jim Carrey reportedly hanging up his famous acting boots, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 takes everything that worked in the first film and expands on the lore, ideas and story beats from that picture into an enjoyable, family-friendly adventure. There's a lot of appeal to the game here, helped by the arrival of two of the more popular members of the Sonic roster – Miles “Tails” Prowler and Knuckles the Echidna.
Storyline
The story is pretty simple and starts with Doctor Robotnik (Jim Carrey) finding himself stranded on a mushroom planet. Settling in for the long haul, he pauses when a portal opens to reveal Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba), a crazed red echidna with a serious chip on his shoulder. He is desperate to find Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) and pay for the massacre of his people, something that links him to Longclaw and the battle that started the original film.
In order to stop Sonic, Knuckles also goes after the Master Emerald, the largest and most powerful emerald that can grant its owner unimaginable power. Sonic finds himself against the ropes as Knuckles and Eggman work together. That is, until Tails (voiced by Collen O'Shanussy) jumps in and helps his idol stop this threat and save the day.
Biggest Problem
One of the biggest problems with the first Sonic movie came from the emphasis on human characters. This time, the couple is jetting off to Hawaii for the wedding, with Sonic doing most of the heavy lifting.
This subplot becomes more prominent later in the film, but honestly, 20 minutes devoted solely to the human characters could have been cut entirely. It's not funny, it's incredibly cheesy, and it does Sonic and the gang no good. Many people were worried at the performance I attended with my son.
Those issues aside, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a lot of fun and a love letter to fans of the franchise. There are plenty of Easter eggs and nods to the game; From Sonic receiving air bubbles underwater to his trademark spin attack; this movie is clearly made with love for video games.
Comparing this to the writers of the new Halo TV show, who proudly say they've never played the game and have no intention of doing so (a way to win over fans at Paramount), Sonic 2 is pure, nostalgic fun.
Comedy
The comedy is pretty much the same as it was the first time around, with lots of self-referencing to other movies and ideas, lots of slapstick, one big, colorful dance number, and lots of goofy banter. Oh, and of course Jim Carrey is here in all his usual typical, over-the-top ways.
The visuals are also excellent and the animators deserve a lot of credit here. There are a lot of extreme close-ups of Sonic and his friends, where you really see the painstaking detail put into the fur and facial expressions.
This extends to the credit sequence, which has a similar pixel-art style, before the post-credit sequence sets up a potential future for this Sonic franchise. I won't spoil it here, but the ending we're explaining will address it in more detail, don't worry!
Brilliant Family Drama Movie
If you liked the first movie. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is essentially more of the same, but bigger, better, and with less human characters dominating the screen. The aforementioned 20 minute cut aside, Sonic 2 is a brilliant family film that both adults and children will enjoy. It won't win any awards, of course, but it's a very fun way to spend a few hours. Ride in Sonic 3!
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