3 out of 5 stars (average)
Sonic The Hedgehog was as good as it could possibly be. It was light, fun, and funny for all ages and proved you could make a movie out of a video game if (gasp) you focused on making it a good movie first. It’s now 2 years later, and Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is just about on the same level as its predecessor in terms of goofy humor, but with larger-scale action and sadly a little less heart than before. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is bigger, stranger, family-oriented fun that should please kids and be enjoyable enough for their parents too.
Sonic the Hedgehog (Voiced by Ben Schwartz) is looking forward to chilling around the house while his human friends Tom (James Marsden) and his wife Maddie (Tika Sumpter) are off to Hawaii for the wedding of Maddie’s sister Rachel (Natasha Rothwell). However, when the devious Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) returns to earth with the Sonic-hating Knuckles The Echidna (Voiced by Idris Elba) in tow, another cat-and-mouse chase ensues, this time with a new ally in the form of Tails (voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessy) who must help Sonic thwart Robotnik once again.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is another enjoyable romp. The action is bigger and better-directed, most of the jokes work, and the story is crazier. Both kids and adults in my audience enjoyed the speedy shenanigans and new cast members Shemar Moore (Criminal Minds), Idris Elba and Colleen O’Shaughnessy (who’s voiced Tails in the games forever) do fine too. I also like the message about what true friendship is. Marsden and Sumpter are sidelined until the 2nd half and some of the pop-culture references don’t work, but otherwise I enjoyed this as a family movie. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is another round of fun for families with more action, goofy humor, and insanity that hints at greater things for the blue speedster. See it.
Rated PG for Action, Some Violence, Rude Humor, and Mild Language