Film Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

The world’s most famous (and the only!) blue hedgehog who runs at supersonic speed is back, and this time he needs all the help he can get. On one hand, Sonic tries to save the world as a superhero, while on the other, he has to deal with the arrival of a new ally, one who considers his partner a legend for his exploits. That’s not all, his nemesis – the weird Dr. Robotnik – also makes a comeback with a mission that will make him the most powerful person in the world, unless Sonic and his friends stop him.

Directed by Jeff Fowler, the sequel to the successful Sonic the Hedgehog begins with ‘the Eggman’ (Jim Carrey) joining hands with a dog-like bruiser named Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) who wants to get his hands on an ancient relic – Master Emerald – which allows its possessor to bend reality to their will. Naturally, the doc is more interested in the power than the alliance, and hence tags along with his new ‘friend’, without realizing that Sonic might have an ace or two up his sleeve.

Meanwhile, all Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) wants to do is to save lives and be known for his superheroic feats, even though his attempts at that end up disastrously for others. When, in the absence of his adopted parents Tom and Maddie Wachowski (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter), he is attacked by Eggman and Knuckles, and saved by new entrant Tails (voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessey), Sonic decides to get serious. With the help of Tails, the two plan to beat the bad guys to the location of the ancient relic and save the world in their own way.

Irrespective of how Sonic and Tails fare, the film belongs to the 1990s icon and the rejuvenated star Jim Carrey who reprises his role from the earlier flick. As a villainous weirdo who is aided by gadgets every step of the way, he makes this fast-paced film equally entertaining for everyone. You might or might not be a fan of the family-friendly video game, but the way he carries the sequel from the first frame to the last is nothing short of refreshing. Yes, he is silly, but that’s how he has been for the last 30 years, and not looking awkward in his silliness is exactly what makes him stand out here as well.

Ben Schwartz who voices Sonic comes second in the race, although he is the protagonist here. He runs as fast as he can, makes kids and older people in the audience laugh, and saves the world but his load is shared by two extraterrestrials – Tails and Knuckles – without whom he might not have won the battle. But hey, isn’t Knuckles the bad guy here? Of course, he is but knowing Knuckles from the video game (and Idris Elba who lends his voice to the character), he can’t stay bad for long.

If Idris Elba’s voice makes Knuckles look more powerful than Sonic in the trailers, it has the same effect in the film where Knuckles proves to be the antagonist to Sonic. When he punches him, it shatters Sonic momentarily; one moment he is superior to Sonic, and the other Sonic has the upper hand. That’s what the audience missed in the first flick where Dr. Robotnik and Sonic seemed unequal, but here Sonic vs Knuckles is a treat for the viewers.

James Marsden and Tika Sumpter both had their moments in the movie, where they were shown as caring parents and later as protective guardians, but they could have done more in the movie. Also, the audience might not agree with the way the climax unfolded, as the power of Master Emerald should have rendered the possessor unstoppable, but Sonic turned out to be the one who couldn’t be defeated. You have to watch the film to know what happened at the climax, I am not telling you!

And whenever the history of films is written in the future, Sonic the Hedgehog will feature in it, as the film that marked both the start and possibly the end of the pandemic. When the first Sonic was released in 2020, cinemas were yet to be hit with COVID-19, whereas when the second Sonic was released last week, it was back to normal for cinemas after two years.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is also a welcome change from the last successful flick to hit the cinemas – The Batman. Unlike the ‘dark’ knight flick, this one is full of colors giving the audience what they missed the most. Be it the destruction of the wedding ceremony of Maddie’s sister (Natasha Rothwell), her memorable fight scene (oh yes, she has one!), or TV star Shemar Moore’s surprise entry into the franchise, everything leaves a mark on the audience’s mind because it’s executed to perfection.

The high-octane chase, the fight sequences between alien beings, the ability to predict the next dialogue, everything falls in place when Sonic is on the run. It might or might not prove to be Jim Carrey’s final swansong – he has hinted at ‘retiring’ from acting – but the truth is, no one can play the fiendish Dr. Robotnik better than him. With the hinted inclusion of another Sonic character from the video game, the franchise is all set to go big in the future. It would be great if Jim Carrey is part of it so that he can ‘carrey’ the battle forward!