One of the best things about the first Sonic the Hedgehog film is it has its own personality. Sure, it features the blue blur you know and love, but putting him on Earth in the real world puts a new spin (pun intended) on the franchise. Unlike Sonic ’06, anthropomorphic animals and humans together somehow make sense.
Yet where the first put the hedgehog into the real world, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 puts the video game back into the film, its plot now hinging on entire setpieces that honour the game series. There’s a water-logged labyrinth! Snowboarding! The Tornado biplane! This is a film as much for the adult fans to pick apart as it is for kids to laugh at the silliness.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Download & Keep now | Official Trailer | Paramount Pictures UK Watch on YouTube
Story-wise this sequel follows directly from the first film, with Sonic (Ben Schwartz) settling into life in the US town of Green Hills with surrogate dad Tom (James Marsden) and his wife Maddie (Tika Sumpter). Sonic is something of an unruly teen, sneaking out to fight crime at night like a spiky Batman in a bid to use his speedy powers for good.
Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) soon returns though, having been stranded on a mushroom planet (a nod to Mushroom Hill Zone) in one of the most disgusting opening sequences for anyone who dislikes fungi. He joins forces with Knuckles (Idris Elba), aka “Clifford the big red rage monster”, to capture the Master Emerald and use its energy for his latest dastardly plan to take over the world.
That means Sonic will need to team up with his cute and naive secret fan Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and learn all about being a hero, responsibility, and friendship – this is primarily a kids’ film after all.
Beyond that, though, director Jeff Fowler has injected the sequel with a large dose of… Sonic. The human subplot mostly takes a backseat in favour of major references from throughout the series; more than anything it’s an excuse to ring jump through the series from Sonic 3 & Knuckles to Sonic Heroes and more.