Does anyone remember when the first Sonic The Hedgehog trailer came out? Does anyone remember what Sonic originally looked like? And the low expectations that those terrible visual effects imposed on the hedgehog’s impending live action debut? I do, vividly. The reminder of what Sonic The Hedgehog almost was helps put the quality of its new sequel into perspective. After correcting course and beating the odds in round one, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 continues to exceed the new, more acceptable audience expectations. The film is chalk full of endearing themes and humor, and without remorse, the film portrays itself as bon a fide Sonic The Hedgehog entertainment.

After finding his place in Green Hills, Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) is anxious to prove himself as a true hero to earth. His opportunity comes when Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) returns to earth, with the help of Sonics’ nemesis, Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba). Together, they plan to find an emerald that has the power to destroy entire civilizations. In his quest to stop them, Sonic teams up with his fan favorite pal, Tails, and embark on a journey to find the emerald and prevent Robotniks’ evil plan.

Sure, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is once again aimed at entertaining kids, but the film doesn’t forget that many of today’s children’s parents grew up with the titular hedgehog and the collection of recognizable characters. So Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is adept at appeasing both audiences, curating endearing themes throughout the film for kids to enjoy and adults to ruminate on. For example, the film makes the relationship between Sonic and Tom (James Marsden) a focal point of the film, where Sonic sees him as a friend while Tom views Sonic like a son. Sonic is so anxious to grow up and be that hero, but needs proper guidance to do so - much like how many of the younger members of the audience need their parents. Another theme involves Tails, who despite coming to warn Sonic of the impending danger from the likes of Knuckles, also is portrayed in many ways like a younger sibling. It’s in these situations that Sonic is able to find his way to being who he needs to be, much like those of us older siblings out there.

Comedically, I consistently found myself with a grin on my face watching Sonic The Hedgehog 2. I may be in the minority when it comes to my lack of enthusiasm about Jim Carrey’s brand of comedic entertainment, but his version of Robotnik in these two Sonic films are some of his more enjoyable performances for me; watching him jam out to Pantera is a highlight. Knuckles is comedic gold, and without him, the film would be far less entertaining, benefitting greatly from the casting of Elba. But while all of these characters from the original video game contribute to the film’s best qualities, the human characters - many carried over from the first Sonic film - come off as afterthoughts, ultimately detracting from Sonic The Hedgehog 2’s overall value as a cinematic experience.

Sonic and company look just as good as they did in the preceding film - thanks, again, to the production’s response to public feedback. It’s one of the few times the effect of internet backlash has yielded long term benefits for a film franchise. There’s much to enjoy about the film, and as one of those parents who grew up with this crazy cast of characters, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is exactly what I wanted it to be: a truly Sonic movie.

Acting/Casting - 1 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer’s Preference - 2 | What does this mean?