Sonic The Hedgehog 2
review by Bobby Blakey
For years there have been many video games turned into feature films, but more often than not they just don’t work. For every Resident Evil there is a Super Mario Bros., but as technology has gotten so much better more properties are being offered to make the leap. In 2020 the face of SEGA Sonic the Hedgehog hit the big screen for his first live action adventure. Now the gang is back for Sonic The Hedgehog 2 including James Marsden, Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, and Jim Carrey returning, alongside new additions Shemar Moore, Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles, and Colleen O'Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails. Could this latest chapter bring as much fun as the original or will it fail to make it to the next level?
Sonic The Hedgehog follows Sonic who is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero after settling in Green Hills,. 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.
I will be the first to admit that when the first film came out in 2020 I was so not into it before I saw it. I thought there was no way it was going to work and I was so wrong. I ended up having a blast with it and seeing Jim Carrey back into old school wacky mode made it all the better. From the first trailer I have actually been excited to see this next chapter and I was not disappointed. While I haven’t played any of the games since the original came out I am fully aware of the various characters and was ready to see them come to life. One of my concerns though was adding so many other
characters like Sonic could make it feel more cartoonish than it already is, but it surprisingly works.
Right out the gate this film dives into the fun directly from the events of the after credits sequence of the previous films. If you thought Carrey hammed it up the first time around he is unleashed here and so much fun to watch. He looks to be having more fun with this character than he has in years and I am here for it. The story bringing both Knuckles and Tails into the mix works perfectly and takes it into a bigger global adventure. This is what the next chapter needed to just cut lose and go all in and they did just that. There are so many great moments of action, laughs and visual fun that they blew the first film away. Sure it is ridiculous, but if you are going to buy into Sonic himself then you have to accept the rest of it as well.
Part of what makes the first works is also the heart with the budding friendship between Sonic and Marsden’s character and it is on full display here. They have great moments together and cement the context of their family dynamic and keeps it growing into a stronger bond of them all. This film is filled with vibrant visuals and a feast for the senses as it all builds up to a massive final act that is loads of fun. I admit I had a blast with this film and love the universe building they have done and from the latest after credit sequence they are clearly not done yet.
In addition to the film this release offers up nearly an hour of bonus features, headlined by an all-new, exclusive animated short entitled “Sonic Drone Home” featuring Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Grab your copy of Sonic The Hedgehog 2 available now on digital and Paramount + and on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on August 9th from Paramount Home Entertainment.