When the manic Dr. Robotnik returns to Earth with a new ally, Knuckles the Echidna, Sonic, and his new friend Tails are all that stand in their way.
“Sonic the Hedgehog 2” has so many teaching points that it would be almost impossible to say that it is mainly a children’s film. As the movie opens, Sonic (Ben Schwartz) struggles with knowing what a hero is and how to differentiate between being heroic and being a showoff. I love how he is referred to as a kid and how his parents, Maddie (Tika Sumpter) and Tom Wachowski (James Marsden), make it a point to teach him life lessons through basic interactions. Director Jeff Fowler takes us right into Green Hills and shows us how much Sonic the Alien has matured through his surroundings and how he is adjusting to family life. Showing how normal Sonic is, is a good reflection for kids to see themselves, and it helps set up a great storyline about humility and transformation.
While it has been a few years (2020) since we were graced with the initial “Sonic the Hedgehog,” it is hard to forget how great an actor Jim Carrey is in his role as Dr. Robotnik, the evil being who threatens civilization with his need for power. In this new version, he is found in a land of Shitaki mushrooms and returns with Knuckles (Idris Elba), a force that is seemingly a tad eviler than Dr. Robotnik but just as sneaky and overbearing. In his latest powerplay, Dr. Robotnik tries to disguise his plan to find the magic emerald and all the power that comes with it. As he gets closer to it, it is hard to keep up the façade, and when he gets close to losing it all, he becomes humorously irritating and then turns his back on his sidekick due to his greed. In the end, Sonic gets his hands on the green emerald through efforts and teamwork with Tails and with Knuckles, who initially tried to destroy him.
The most amazing element about this film is the amazing robotics and the deadpan humor. The robotics are huge and exciting and have a major impact on telling the story and setting up the scenes for fun and adventure. At the same time, there are so many humorous lines that appeal strictly to adults and then strictly to children, so there is something for everyone throughout each scene which keeps it meaningful and entertaining. While there are some flaws here and there, overall, it is an exciting two hours filled with action and adventure that truly focuses on relationships and how sometimes, opposing sides can find common ground in this adventurous partnership of good versus evil.
In Theaters Friday, April 8th
