The first Sonic the Hedgehog film in 2020 caught everyone off guard with its combination of humor, heart and animation. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 retains those key elements while adding new characters to the mix.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 could have been an overstuffed mess. In the hands of Matt Fowler and screenwriters Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 manages to tell a story that emphasizes the power of friendship and inclusion by adding Knuckles and Tails.
Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz (as the voice of Sonic), James Marsden and Tika Sumpter return. Carrey chews the scenery with the same energy as the last film. Schwartz delivers a better performance as Sonic in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 than in the first film. Marsden and Sumpter are given a fun subplot that looks like a disaster at first but turns into the comedic highlight of the film thanks to the scene-stealing performance by Natasha Rothwell.
Colleen O’Shaughnessey is sensational as the voice of Tails. An inventor and talented pilot who hero-worships Sonic. From Jon Favreau‘s The Jungle Book to Zootopia Idris Elba‘s no stranger to conveying power through his voice. His take on Knuckles is pretty similar on the surface. However, as the film goes along there’s more to this echidna than meets the eye (Sorry). The final act of the film is fantastic due to the interactions between these characters.
Not everything works in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Adam Polly, a fantastic comedic actor in most roles, is awful again as Wade. His existence in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is to be a fool and to dispense comedy with every line. None of the humor from Wade hits and there are a lot of attempts. The human subplot as funny as it’s by the end takes away from Sonic and Tails’ bonding. There are also some cringy scenes that feel out of place in the film.
Luckily, whenever Sonic, Tail and Knuckles are on the screen, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 shines.
With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood out in Sega’s latest video game adaptation There may be some minor spoilers.
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Knuckles and Tails in Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Knuckles arrives on the earth. He’s on a mission to claim the master emerald. His tribe, the echidna, were engaged in a war with the owl species that raised Sonic. His parents were killed in that war and Sonic was sent away. Knuckles teams up with Eggman to capture the emerald.
The writers and Fowler make the smart decision to make Knuckles around the same age as Sonic, basically a teenager. He’s angry, impetuous and actually pretty dimwitted, which undercuts his ability to be truly threatening. Cutting his ferociousness isn’t a bad thing in this case as he’s not the villain. He’s just lonely, not unlike Sonic and wants the emerald to protect his family’s legacy. They’re just diametrically opposed, foes. Yes, that’s a Hamilton reference
Tails arrives on earth to warn Sonic. He loves Sonic with all of his being. While Knuckles presents himself as confident, Tail doesn’t. He looks at himself as a coward, unworthy of being by Sonic’s side. Early on, Tails tries to just give Sonic information and back off. Sonic isn’t having it and immediately takes Tails on the mission.
The heartwarming moments between Sonic and Tails are the best part of the film.
The measure of a hero
Early on in the film, Sonic is trying to be a superhero but keeps messing up. He may stop a bank robbery, but blows up a city block. As Tom essentially tells him early in the film, Sonic is trying to force being a hero. That’s not how a hero is made. The moment chooses the hero.
Sonic’s greatest act of heroism in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 isn’t his speed. Sonic’s ability to raise up others around him, even those who have hurt him, is his greatest strength.
Throughout the film, Sonic is tested and he’s always at his lowest when he feels like he let someone down. As age-old as it’s, Sonic’s innate goodness makes him a character worth rooting for.
GUNs and weddings don’t mix
Tom and Maddie attend a Hawaiian wedding. If you’re wondering what a wedding has to do with Sonic, you’re right to question this subplot. Sonic has pretty much nothing to do with this wedding until he suddenly needs rescuing through a ring portal that he gave to Tom.
Once Sonic arrives in Hawaii, this subplot becomes the comedic highlight of the film. Sonic’s arrival leads to the reveal that Rachel’s fiance is an undercover GUN agent. The Gun agents and the returning Commander Walters apprehend Sonic and Tails.
Rachel, Tom and Maddie proceed to rescue Sonic and Tails with some hilarious stealth work. Everything about this sequence after Sonic arrives is hilarious and ties into Sonic’s plot. It’s just unfortunate that the wedding took Sonic out of the film for a portion.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Final Thoughts
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a better film than the first one. The final act is awesome for adults and children. Full of fantastic animation, high stakes and great scene-chewing from Carrey to send the film out with a Super Sonic bang!
The Review
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
PROS
- Strong lessons in heroism and friendship.
- Ben Schwartz's heartfelt and humorous performance.
- Colleen O'Shaughnessey and Idris Elba are wonderful as Tails and Knuckles.
- Jim Carrey, especially in 3rd act, is a cartoon in live action.
- The animation and effects are leaps and bounds better than the first film.
- Terrific 3rd act.
CONS
- Wedding subplot takes away from Sonic's story.
- Adam Pally's comedic performance as Wade doesn't land a single laugh.
- Some out of place moments that came across as creepy rather than endearing or funny.
