Yes, even the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie was a kid’s movie, but parents and gamers will tell you that the movie was almost a love story to the video game we all grew up with. With hints and nods to the original game beyond the character choice – there were so many hidden Easter eggs in the film that it could be picked apart by the biggest fans through every viewing.
And yes, the second does have some of these nods towards fans, and some that will bring back that nostalgia for you – but it seems this time around the focus is more on the kids who liked the first movie than fans of the franchise. Inherently, there is nothing wrong with this, and is most likely a smart move since kids will be the ones driving Sonic 2 at the box office – but it may take some fans aback as they wonder what this over two-hour-long movie has to offer them.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 brings back our favorite bright blue hero as he begins to settle into life with a family and grapple with the fact that he’s still considered a kid and has some growing up to do. When Donut Lord and his family are off to Hawaii for a wedding, Sonic not only has to handle being home alone but the return of Dr. Robotnik – who is of course out for revenge for being banished to the mushroom planet. The sequel brings back the original cast with some additions including Shemar Moore, Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails.
Included in this sequel of course is Jim Carrey back as Dr. Robotnik or the Eggman. Like in his past roles, this includes the classic overacting that made Carrey famous back in the 90s. This physical and almost cartoon-like quality of his depiction really brings the character to life, although does wear on viewers in such a long film. And with his most recent statement about retiring from acting – we’re not quite sure if that means no more Sonic films or if this character will be replaced in the future.
Probably one of the worst things about Sonic 2 is the run time of over 2 hours. Sure, we’re introducing two new major franchise characters of Tails and Knuckles, but their backstories hardly add any time to the film. Instead, a lot of time is spent at Rachel’s wedding in Hawaii, and things that happen there. While this storyline is somewhat important to the movie overall – it seems almost like some could have been cut to keep it to a length that kids will stay engaged with. There is, however, a bonus scene and additional character introduction that you wont want to miss.
While Sonic 2 may not be as strong as the first movie is for fans of the video game or the characters in general, it’s still a lot of fun. It does seem to be a bit long and the juxtaposition between the Sonic storyline and what is happening with Donut Lord and the other humans. It’s not a smooth transition between the two stories and it seems the connections are loose at times. But overall, kids are going to love the sequel as much as they loved the original.
Want to hear what kids think? We asked a few after the screening here in Metro-Detroit:
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About Sonic 2
The world’s favorite blue hedgehog is back for a next-level adventure in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2. 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. From the filmmakers behind The Fast and the Furious and Deadpool, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 stars James Marsden, Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, and Jim Carrey returning, alongside new additions Shemar Moore, with Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails.
This is completely wrong. As a Sonic the Hedgehog expert, whose friends know me as “the Sonic guy”, the first film was meant to introduce new fans to the franchise, while keeping plenty for old fans. This movie, on the other hand, is an absolute love letter to fans. It takes a story directly from Sonic 3 & Knuckles, which is one of, if not, the most popular Sonic game of all time. It is filled with references to the games, from obvious things like G.U.N. from Sonic Adventure 2 and Team Sonic (Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles) from Sonic Heroes, to things only true fans of the games will notice, like a helicopter being labeled SA-2 (Sonic Adventure 2) and the coffee shop Agent Stone works at being called Mean Bean, named after the spinoff game Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine. The first film was amazing, but THIS is an absolute love letter to the Sonic franchise.