Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Director: Jeff Fowler

Writer: Pat Casey, Josh Miller, John Whittington

Starring: Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Idris Elba, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Lee Majdoub, Colleen O’Shaughnessey

Reason for watching: new release and I will see almost anything Idris Elba does

Number of times I’ve watched it: first time viewing

***

As a basketball fan, I have been privy to some amazing comebacks in my day. Watching a team or an individual overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds is moving and motivational. If they can overcome this difficult task, why can’t I? Perhaps one of the greatest movie comebacks of all time belongs to the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie. If you don’t remember the first trailer for Sonic, let me remind it featured a blue monstrosity. The intended design for the titular speedster was terrible to behold and instantly drew the ire of the SEGA icon’s fans. But in a stroke of genius, the parent company decided to delay the movie and put another $5 million into the budget in order to correct their depiction of Sonic. Fans were appreciative and showed their thanks at the box office as Sonic was one of the last box office hits before the pandemic struck. And now the sequel to the surprise success is here, and it is not far behind its predecessor in terms of commercial success and quality.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 takes place a few years after the events of the original film. Living with Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter), Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) is surprised when his old nemesis returns. Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) has come back for vengeance. Aided by his own little friend Knuckles (Idris Elba), Robotnik intends to gain a source of ultimate power. But Sonic has help in the form of a new friend Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey). With Tom and Maddie as well, Sonic will have to best Robotnik and Knuckles to keep them from becoming too powerful and destroying life as we know it.

What a blast this movie is! I remember enjoying the first one right after it came out, but I found it to be underwhelming. Carrey’s efforts and eccentricities seemed childish to me and Sonic is literally a child himself. But here now I find the jokes land a little easier. Schwartz’s brand of comedy lends itself well to a kid’s movie, but when you add in Elba’s wonderful seriousness it makes for a fun dynamic between the two video game characters. I mean what a perfect casting decision for knuckles. The smooth voice of Elba contrasts hilariously with the ridiculous dialogue he is reading. One would think it would take you out of the movie, but it just makes it more fun to hear Elba read lines like this or that. Honestly, his casting and performance makes this movie for me.

On top of that, the action itself is enjoyable. The constant chases are not the only source of entertainment. Sonic and Knuckles actually get into a dustup or two, and it’s very enjoyable to watch. Their punches actually land with some force without being gory or too violent so that it would take you out of this as a kid’s movie. On top of this are some fun deep cuts and easter eggs that keep fans of the actors and franchise interested.

Probably my main source of criticism is the duplicative nature of the whole thing. It does seem very similar to the plot of the original and the jokes are not all that different. Particularly it feels like Carrey is recycling bits and jokes from older works of his. The stakes never seem real as we know nothing could happen to the beloved hedgehog, but that can be forgiven as this is a kid’s movie in the end. In the end this movie really is just dumb fun with a little extra umph added in from the GOAT himself, Idris Elba.

7/10

Until I see another one.

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