Sonic the Hedgehog 2
That blue blur of fur is back on the screens, storming through with light-hearted popcorn action that has managed the rare skill of blurring family entertainment with nostalgic partitions to offer something to jaded adults. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a skilful and respectable feature because, much like the first, it is not pandering to its audience of youngsters nor is it boring the tears off of the adults dragged to see it. That is a rare commodity in the drooling systems of remake, replace, and respite found in most of the child-oriented films of the past few years. On that merit alone, it is rather easy to forgive Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for its various shortcomings – and there are many.
Its plot is thinly veiled in its attempts to construct a new streamlined series of feature-length entertainment. Tactics that deploy post-credits scenes, pop culture jabs and ruminations of something bigger behind the scenes, as the first Sonic the Hedgehog feature did, but with less imagination. Jim Carrey is an exceptional draw as ever, flossing, dancing, and turning up the scenery-chewing delights. He rushes through this with genuine charm and holds it together when asked to uphold the plot, new characters and just about everything else. He is the glue that keeps Sonic the Hedgehog 2 from falling apart. It is a shame that everything around Carrey is more or less forgettable, unlike the first which has fun moments of opportune adventure.
This sequel from director Jeff Fowler still has those moments, but fewer of them. Each adventurous leap to one country or another feels far longer than it needs to be, and in turn, it leaves less time for more variety. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 still has the affable charms of Ben Schwartz’s leading voice but is saddled with Tails the Fox and it all feels a bit too real. At least Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is faithful in adapting how horribly annoying Tails is. Knuckles is a bit of a bland one too, although the character design on this Idris Elba-voiced character is, like most of the others, truly exceptional. James Marsden and Tika Sumpter play an absolute nondescript part in providing the family-led messaging of the feature without actually being present for most of it. A lot of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is bold enough to base itself almost entirely on the furballs at the heart of it. It does pay off in the end.
As Sonic (Schwartz) says, he is rent-free in the mind. That he is. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will not linger long on the mind, a feature so forgettable that the equivalent experience would be to put a pillowcase over the head and repeatedly scream “gotta go fast”. But there is a joy to be had in the mindless popcorn thriller that it is. It isn’t taxing, it isn’t horrible, and it certainly has its moments. Nothing inspiring, nothing insufferable. Except for Tails. That rabid little squirrel is in this feature far too much, far too long. But it is a feature with no aim, and that’s just alright. No plot this thin and simple could hold up anything else, and it is a miracle to see what Carrey, Fowler and company can do with such a basic premise.