Continuing on from where we last left Sonic (Ben Schwartz), the blue Hedgehog continues trying to blend in and find his purpose within the city. Sonic roams the streets like a superhero vigilante at night, calling himself “Blue Justice”. When police sirens go off, Sonic tries to save the day and protect those in need. But when he is involved in a car chase that goes wrong, Sonic discovers that being a hero isn’t easy. Perhaps he should learn to wait for the right time when his powers and skills are best used rather than forcing himself to save the day all the time.
Sonic still lives with Tom (James Marsden) and his wife, Maddie (Tika Sumpter). When Tom and his wife go to Hawaii to attend a friend’s wedding, Sonic gets the house to himself, allowing him to be independent and have some fun. But it’s not long until Sonic is greeted by his old foe Dr Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who managed to escape the deserted dimension surrounded by large mushrooms. But this time, Dr Robotnik isn’t alone. Sonic encounters a dangerous and powerful Echidna named Knuckles (Idris Elba), who believes Sonic holds the key to finding the ultimate power. Thankfully Sonic won’t be alone for the unexpected fight as a new friend, Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), attempts to find Sonic and help him before it’s too late.
If you enjoyed the previous film or personally love the character and the gaming franchise of Sonic the Hedgehog, strap yourself in for another treat. Not only does the film contain many fun easter egg references from both the Sonic games and the world of Sega, but as a sequel, there’s a nice expansion to Sonic’s journey and a discovery of new characters such as Tails and Knuckles. The introduction of new characters is welcome here (especially Knuckles, who was downright cool). Like the previous film, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a visual treat. CGI characters, including Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, are impressive, and the visuals cannot be faulted. The film’s soundtrack is packed with familiar tunes, making certain action scenes an even bigger joy to watch.
Elements surrounding the film’s villain Dr Robotnik are great too. The various devices and technology the evil doctor uses throughout differ from the previous film, keeping this sequel exciting for the entire duration. Jim Carrey, like in the previous film, can’t be faulted. He is over the top and fun yet again, even if some one-liners don’t quite land as solid a laugh as intended. The actor’s on-screen energy never disappoints throughout the entire duration, and his costumes were wild and fun.
But sadly, despite the fact I enjoyed this new chapter in Sonic’s life, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has many moments that feel highly unnecessary. I’m mostly referring to the multiple subplots, such as scenes at a wedding or watching Sonic and Tails have a dangerous dance-off at a gritty bar. These types of sup plots and moments are highly uninteresting to watch, and most of them occur during the first and second acts. With these additional unnecessary scenes, it’s no wonder the run time is just over two hours. Thankfully, the third act is the strongest and most entertaining aspect of the entire film. It has fun action and creativity, and who doesn’t love a good old showdown among the lead characters? Moments within the third act were also unpredictable, which was nice to see.
Overall, this is a nice expansion of Sonic’s journey, and it’s great to see some new yet familiar faces from the gaming franchise. Like the previous film, visuals are solid and pleasing, along with actor Jim Carrey’s energetic and over the top performance as the villain. But sadly, the story is packed with subplots that are highly uninteresting, ridiculous, and unnecessary, especially during the first two acts, making the runtime just over two hours! Thankfully, the film does manage to bring it home with an actioned packed third act, but looking at the whole film, it’s a step back from what I would have preferred after the last instalment.
6.4/10
29th March 2022
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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