Synopsis:
After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
Enjoy being young for as long as you can. For whatever reason, at a young age, we all have or had this urge to be or appear to be older. My guess is that it’s the appeal of independence. We ache to do and buy what we want, have our own money, go where we want, and make our own decisions. It all sounds amazing, that is until we actually become an adult and realize that nothing is what it seems. We come to realize that responsibility is more than walking the dog and cleaning your room and that alcohol is more for sadness and stress than it is for fun. Fortunately, despite where we come from or what our circumstances are, though it may be long and it difficult, we can forge our own path and find a way to create that fun and exciting adult life that we want.
“I don’t want to die like this, it’s derivative.”
The Blue Blur and Donut Lord are back again and the stakes are higher than ever. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a nostalgic explosion of blue, orange, red, and green. Picking up not long after the first adventure ended, the story quickly gives us an update on Robotnik as well as our cobalt blue hero. Eggman is surrounded by more mushrooms than he can count and Sonic wants to be called Blue Justice as he gets some Uncle Ben-esque wisdom from Tom. On its surface, this film seems to be finely tuned for children’s consumption. However, with its late 90s to early 2000s soundtrack and movie references that predominantly resonate with adults, this speed of sound showdown is actually for the childlike spirit of millennials and xennials.
Compared to its predecessor, this go-around has more of a cheery superhero movie vibe complete with an abundance of witty and sometimes cheesy hero-villain repartee. I found there to be aspects that reminded me of Dragon Ball Z, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and Avengers. Especially as they race to find the Master Emerald that contains raw unbound chaos energy. There are even a few moments that will send true fans of the franchise into a vocal frenzy similar to those huge moments from Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home. With an uncomplicated story that promotes overcoming your fears, family, and taking responsibility, it’s a fun and entertaining ride from beginning to end. Now, the jokes don’t always hit and it runs a tad bit too long, however, it remains a good time for the whole family. I saw the film in a Regal 4DX theater and it was the most enjoyable and intense experience to date. If you don’t see it in IMAX, I recommend 4DX. The sound is great, the characters look fantastic, there are moments ripped straight from the SEGA video game, and to see Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles standing together had my inner child bouncing off the walls. Oh, and you’ll most certainly want to stay for the mid-credits scene to get one more thrill in. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is definitely a step up from the original and the third installment can only get bigger. Its rewatchability is medium-high.
Pacing & Pop
The pacing of the film starts off great. We see all the new and returning characters rather quickly and it sets up its journey just as fast. However, along the way, the quest gets a bit sluggish as it moves at the opposite of Sonic speed as the story begins to cater to its human characters and its messaging. What popped for me was seeing new characters such as Tails and Knuckles come to life. Additionally, we get to have them around for the entire film which is not only exciting but unexpected.
Characters & Chemistry
Starring: James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Shemar Moore, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey
Besides a hilarious and insult-heavy Jim Carrey and a fatherly James Marsden, the film doesn’t focus on human relationships as much. As I’m sure many will enjoy, Sonic and his otherworldly cohorts drive the majority of the story. Ben Schwartz knocks it out of the park again as Sonic. I especially enjoyed the Parks and Rec Jean-Ralphio reference. Idris Elba as Knuckles is my standout. I love him for the same reasons we love Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. He’s battle-hardened, comically literal, and confused by modern conventions. It was only right for Colleen O’Shaughnessey to voice Tails. As she has been voicing him for a while, she is already the voice that many fans know. Natasha Rothwell has some comical moments as she did in the original. And a surprise Shemar Moore does Shemar Moore things – looks better than everyone and makes you feel like you need to exercise.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 releases in theaters on April 8, 2022. Stay safe and enjoy.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Runtime: 2h 2m
Rated: PG
Director: Jeff Fowler
Writers: Pat Casey & Josh Miller and John Whittington
Producers: Neal H. Moritz, p.g.a, Toby Ascher, p.g.a, Toru Nakahara, Hitoshi Okuno
Executive Producers: Haruki Satomi, Yukio Sugino, Shuji Utsumi, Nan Morales, Tim Miller
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
