Growing up, I was more of a Sonic the Hedgehog guy than Super Mario. Mainly because in my house we had a SEGA Genesis instead of a Super Nintendo. Plus, a fast-moving hedgehog was cooler than a mustached plumber. I remember playing many levels as Sonic racing through check points and bouncing off Dr Robotnik's machines. The first Sonic the Hedgehog film was a real surprise treat that I didn't expect. When I saw they were going to bring a CGI Sonic into the real world I thought it was going to be another lame strategy of trying to put a fantasy character, from a fantasy world, into the real world to save some money. Examples include Smurfs, Spongebob Squarepants, Garfield. But that film I think worked. Sonic was fun to watch, my man Cyclops (James Marsden) teamed up for a buddy story, and Jim Carrey played the eccentric villain.
Before the second film was released SEGA announced that a third Sonic film was on the way, along with a Knuckles spin-off, and more. Sure, the first film had broken out of the mold of movies based on video games aren't great, but was SEGA counting their golden rings too soon? In this sequel, Sonic teams up with Tails to find the Emerald Gem before Robotnik and his new ally, Knuckles. As the film continues Knuckles turns against Robotnik and the end of the film sees Sonic with his new entourage. This part of the film was great! The trio of these characters works. Once Knuckles flipped in the film, he had a real Drax the Destroyer vibe. And the last scene with all of them playing baseball and interacting made me look forward to their chemistry as a team in future films.
We also saw more things in the Sonic lore this time around. Super Sonic (or Captain Marvel Sonic as I call him) appeared to destroy Robotnik's robot (much like how Carol Danvers destroyed Thanos's ship) and we get a tease for the character Shadow. These two things I am less familiar with as the last Sonic the Hedgehog game I actually played was Sonic & Knuckles or maybe Sonic Pinball on Genesis. Although I have played some Sonic Racing with my daughter on Playstation. However, I know the Sonic mythology has just scratched the surface with many characters left to be added. I just hope a few of them are included from the Saturday morning ABC cartoon with that bitchin theme song!
Now, I will say, the thing I hate about some sequels is they take something that was funny in the first film and ramp it up for the second film and end up ruining the joke. Tom's sister-in-law had a small, but funny part in the first film. Now in this second installment she has a fiancée who turns out to be a government spy just waiting for Sonic to turn up. This adds a subplot that really wasn't necessary. All it did was add twenty minutes to a film that kids with short attention spans will be watching. Sonic and Tails were captured and freed almost immediately. No point at all.
Jim Carrey had a few moments also in this film where I thought his delivery was a little too much, but it's Jim Carrey in a Sonic the Hedgehog film so what else should I expect. But for me, this film comes down to Sonic. He's a character I've enjoyed for decades in video games, cartoons, and now films. He's a fast moving, fun-loving, character that is a pleasure to see with his quips and Parks and Recreation references.
I will say I didn't like this film as much as the first Sonic the Hedgehog film. I think it's because the first film was simpler, more of a buddy film, and this one tried to be that with Sonic and Tails, but just had too much in it to be simple. I was worried when Sonic and Tails entered the lodge that we were going to get another bar scene like the first film, but instead we got a dance off to keep it fresh. Nicely done Mr. Fowler and team! I do have a question about the Emerald Gem. It was made up of all the tiny gems, and when Super Sonic destroyed it all the smaller gems vanished into the sky. But then Knuckles puts the Emerald Gem back together and they still plan on protecting it? Did I miss the part where it's nothing now?
This film isn't going to win any Oscars, but I appreciate a franchise my daughter and I can enjoy together, and I'm always down to support Cyclops in a film! It looks like this is just the beginning for Sonic and his team, and I hope they stay on this track. I'll just be munching on my chili dogs and enjoying the run.
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