Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a far more entertaining film than the first, but with its lack of world-building in this sequel means we probably have to lower our expectations on the third.
Remember when you had to trick your older brother so you could play Sonic the Hedgehog all to yourself? But then Sega made Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to include two other characters so you can all play together with your sibs as Player 1 and 2? Wasn’t that great? That’s the same greatness I felt while watching the movie version.
In a rare instance of movie adaptations of old, familiar video games, I have found myself watching Sonic the Hedgehog the movie back in 2021 on a local streaming site. The film itself was released in 2020 but as the COVID-19 hit earlier that year, it was one of the unlucky ones that found itself an ever lower audience rate.
And so as I lowered my expectations in watching this film, my nephew enjoyed it. Flash forward to me promoting it on this site, I found myself interested as I learned that THE Miles “Tails” Prower joins the second film and that THE Colleen O’Shaughnessey, who voiced Tails in the animated series in 2010 will provide the voice. While the first film isn’t totally impressive, my nephew who was the same age as I when my brother played the game, found Jim Carrey’s antics as Dr. Eggman turned Dr. Robotnik entertaining, and Sonic (who no longer had human teeth after much, much backlash) whom he called “cute” and wildly “strong” and idyllic to his taste.
Flash forward to seeing the film in its premiere, that jab on coffee enthusiasts and the “mushroom planet” that seems to highly indulge itself (probably a jab at Sonic’s rival back in the day, Mario Brothers which employs mushrooms as both ally and a bonus pointer) which soon finds itself forgettable (probably another jab at the Brothers whose popularity has waned in the early 00s), Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik in this sequel is a far more better version that the first, more effortless version also. He’s back with the same cuckoo-cartoonish version of whatever character he wants to play, but this time with better jokes and better antics than the first.
Ben Schwartz’s Sonic is now growing on me. His childlike vocals and sonic being a young, enthusiastic hedgehog are suitable for younger audiences who miss the wholesomeness of the franchise. But one that has really stolen the show, is neither Knuckles who makes his premiere in this film, as voice by the wonderful Idris Elba, nor is it Miles “Tails” Prower, but Maddie’s sister Rachel, played by Natasha Rothwell who fulfills the missing “fun” in the film. James Marsden and Tika Sumpter offer commendable performances but Rothwell’s angst and feist as the bride has brought the film to a whole new level of fun.
Watch the whole franchise with kids. I guess the cinema’s vibe of children giggling and excitement has brought the experience more tolerable than if I had seen this with adults who know better what a great film should be.
