With the Easter holidays creeping up slowly, only Sonic the Hedgehog could fill the need to keep your little speed demons in check and fully entertained. To say I loved the first film is an understatement, especially as the director took criticism on the chin, listened to what fans were saying, and then took the appropriate steps to rectify those critiques. In return, we got a Sonic that was both Game accurate and fan service respectful with the end result being a very well-received film by all; those that mattered anyway.
It was therefore with this success, a sequel was quickly on the cards and the film carries on pretty much from the after credit scene in the first film with Miles “Tails” Prower, a two-tailed fox on the search for the blue streak hero after Dr “Eggman” Robotnik had been ejected to the mushroom planet.
Now having Tails in the second film, was a natural progression, especially as the promotional poster was made to look like the Sonic 2 game cover. He was the proverbial Padawan learner to Sonics newly established Jedi Knight and kept the film grounded and real. With a friend who sonic had to look out for but who was also essential to him beating Robotnik; just like the game.
Knuckles on the other hand was an interesting add for me, bearing in mind he didn’t come into the franchise until the Sonic 3 game, so why they added him into the second film seemed strange. Despite this, his place in the movie was well thought out and Idris Elba did a great job at bringing him to life. I’m really looking forward to seeing him in the upcoming Knuckles series.
Jim Carrey is once again in his element, if this is his final film? He can hold his head high as he will leave the same way he came in, with comedy. Carrey brings his textbook humour and energy back again as Dr Ivo Robotnik. Bigger and as maniacal as ever “poppas got a brand new stache” and he does it so effortlessly you forget he’s playing a game character. He may be the villain but you love him all the same, does Robotnik make this film? absolutely! His mannerisms, his presence, even the fan service of the “Mean Bean” coffee house taken from the Genesis game of the same name. Jim Carrey does it again.
All in all I cannot rave about this film enough it took the winning formula from the first movie, built upon it, and came out with something that, I’d say, surpasses its predecessor, with a truly funny and heartwarming message about acceptance of your uniqueness and perseverance through hardship. A lesson, as a father, whose kids were there with me I felt was a great one for them to be party to.
We cannot wait for the 3rd installment.
Sonic the hedgehog 2 is on general release now! “GOTTA GO FAST!”
FILM BREAKDOWN
**Spoilers ahead**
The sequel picks up literally where we left off. Dr Robotnik (Jim Carrey returning) is trying to escape the mushroom planet when Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) arrives, promising to help Robotnik return to Earth, in exchange for telling him the location of Sonic (Ben Schwartz returning).
Back on Earth, Sonic attempts to help the public as a vigilante “trademark Blue Justice” but as he is still young, makes many mistakes. Sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) tells Sonic to remain patient for the day his powers will be needed and gives a heartwarming fatherly speech.
When Tom leaves with his wife Maddie(Tika Sumpter) for her sister Rachel’s(Natasha Rothwell) wedding in Hawaii, Sonic enjoys some cut loose fun until an unwelcomed guest, Robotnik, accompanied by Knuckles attacks him and demands the location of the legendary Master Emerald, of which the mentions of “Unlimited Power” interests Robotnik, but Tails, arrives in time and helps Sonic escape.
Tails reveals he had been watching Sonic with his self-invented gadgets, ever since the latter’s electromagnetic pulse and witnessed his bravery in battling Robotnik. Impressed by his genius and newfound friendship, Sonic encourages Tails to help him reach the Master Emerald first while Robotnik aids Knuckles in the same task and reunites with Agent Stone, including his favourite latte with steamed Austrian goats milk.
Sonic remembers the old map that Longclaw entrusted to him has an emerald inscribed on it also a hidden magical message from the wise owl. A secret message that pinpoints the emerald’s location in Siberia where they find a compass in an ancient temple, but Robotnik and Knuckles attack them, during which Knuckles reveals he is the sole survivor of the echidna tribe that died along with the Owls and was intent on killing him in revenge.
As an avalanche starts, Tails is injured, Robotnik and Knuckles leave with the compass as Sonic calls Tom to make a ring portal to save them. As Sonic introduces Tom to Tails, the wedding goers, who were secret agents working for the newly established Guardian Units of Nations (GUN) investigating Sonic’s whereabouts, captures all three.
Maddie and Rachel rescue Sonic, Tails, and Tom from GUN’s custody using Tails’ gadgets while Robotnik and Knuckles find an underwater temple containing the Master Emerald. The temple awakens, alerting Sonic and GUN of Robotnik’s threat. With Tails still injured, Sonic goes to the temple solo and engages Knuckles again, but Robotnik being the villain, double-crosses knuckles, steals the emerald and leaves both Knuckles and Sonic to perish in the collapsing temple (Game mechanics fan service by having sonic use an air bubble to breath). However, Sonic and Knuckles escape the temple, reconcile, and agree to work together to defeat Robotnik as Tails shows up (in the fan service Tornado) and rescues them in a biplane.
In Green Hills, an emerald-enhanced Robotnik destroys GUN’s forces and creates a giant mech version of himself and in my opinion the greatest use of Panteras “Walk” ever is used, Pantera in a family film!
Sonic, Tails and Knuckles work together to fight the mech and reclaim the Master Emerald, but the relic is shattered. Tom and Maddie rescue Sonic, but Robotnik, using the mech’s backup power, destroys the car and tries to crush them. Sonic uses the Chaos Emeralds that emerged from the Master Emerald to transform into Super Sonic, yes he went full super saiyan, to save the couple.
Just like in the game, Sonic can use this ability for 60 seconds and by my count, they used him as SS for 60 seconds, brilliant fan service. With his new powers, Super Sonic destroys the mech, crashing with Robotnik still in it. Sonic ends the calamity, reverts back to normal and hands the Chaos Emeralds for Knuckles to recreate the Master Emerald. With the Owls and Echidnas extinct, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles decide to safeguard the Master Emerald in a cooler while living with the Wachowskis.
Now….the after mid credit scene!
GUN unsuccessfully tries to find Robotnik’s body in the crash when they stumble across a hidden 50-year-old file named “Project Shadow”, in which Agent Stone overhears while posing as one of the GUN soldiers. Elsewhere, a capsule containing a black-and-red hedgehog, SHADOW, opens.
