Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
Two years ago before the outbreak from the virus came from China, i've covered the movie adaptation of Sonic The Hedgehog, when we first witnessed the first trailer, it was a complete F***ing NIGHTMARE what we saw, but Paramount acknowledge their mistake for pushing the film for redesigning, and the result is much better what we have, sure the movie have some problems with some mixed-bag jokes, the writing is questionable and some of the human characters are lame, but hey, at least Sonic is pretty good and Jim Carrey's Dr. Robotnik stole the show of his great humor since the 90's. And yes, before leaving the theater, we've witnessed a cliffhanging mid-credit with our old friend Tails will come to the sequel, which is exactly what we're talk about today.
"Sonic The Hedgehog 2" is a 2022 action, adventure, comedy film based on video game with the same name, directed by once again Jeff Fowler, produced by Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara and Hitoshi Okuno, and written by Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington (The latter of them is a screenwriter).
Ever since we saw the mid-credit scene from the first one, its no secret that they're gonna make a sequel with Sonic and Tails teaming up together to dealing with Dr. Robotnik, especially what i heard, they wanted to make this movie as a combination of Sonic 2 and 3, but loosely as they describing it as "A melting pot", not sure what they means, but im assuming its a reference of almost any Sonic in Genesis games. But when we saw the trailer, we all knew we're hyping to see, but then "JEZUS ITS KNUCKLEs!!!", which is exactly how i was overreacted when we witnessed Knuckle are our secondary villain in the trailer.
So, with all that said, will this movie has the great control of Master Emerald, or is this film clearly make Sonic got tripped by shoes in speed?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
As a sequel from the first one, you think that the story is gotta be feel like from the game and maybe some better writing? Well... Its a mixed.
Taken place 8 months after the first film, Dr. Robotnik is still not done for hunting Sonic, despite being trapped in Mushroom planet, he built a laser signal for help to get off this planet, after knocked out and nearly confronting by strangers in avian-like armor (seriously, who are these guys?), he meets strong echidna named Knuckles, as they team up together for Robotnik's unfinished business. Meanwhile, Sonic was busy trying to be a hero to save citizens, but it wasn't as easy to be a hero for her reckless style, which it explained when Tom Wachowski is hesitant for heroic style that didn't match without making trouble, despite he and his wife Maddie are both going out to Hawaii. Little did he knows, not only he was reunited by Dr. Robotnik for his vengeful plan, but got a backup from Knuckles, which turns out confronting him over the "Ultimate Power", but also Sonic got his unexpected backup by our young genius sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower, which turns out Tails found out about about him when he was alone in baseball field that he's going to help Sonic about the "Ultimate Power", which according to the map, it is said to finding a secret temple the power came from "Master Emerald", its up to Sonic and Tails to find the Master Emerald before Robotnik and Knuckles would get it too.
After the first story is rather boringly done before, this one is like they fixed the problem to be like in the game, sure its kinda based on Sonic 2 and 3 for the plot developments, but at least its nice to have that what it should've been than the first one. Plus, it also gave us a nice character development when it comes to their past, like when Knuckles said to be the very last kind of echidna due to the battle between the tribe of echidna and the tride of owls (which where Sonic was adopted by his like guardian Longclaw many years ago), which is nice to hear about his origin, but if the heart's execution would gone better. While the story is pretty good to be based on video game was we know, but the writing is pretty much in obvious cliché, in particular "The Power of Love and Friendship", its one of the most overused cliché in not just movie, but ANY medias that we all know, i understand what Sonic has to deal with, but my problem is that the writing, while its somewhat improvement from the first when it comes to the story, but its just plain lazy based on obvious cliché of be together and "Power of Friendship", cause i hate to say, something has been done before as a former Brony. As for the humor in this sequel, its once again, mixed bag, this is probably another reason why Jim Carrey still made his legendary humor that we love to laugh for his overactive comedic role, he still did his fun job, while Sonic's joke, which i did chuckles at some, but he still makes some immature jokes and the over-obvious pop culture references, some i agree, but others, failed. No to mention, for a 2 hour long film, i find some pacing is questionable that it went too quick, i know its a movie about Sonic and new sidekick, but jeez, would it be ok to slow down a bit?
While the writing has the same problem as the first one, along with questionable pacing, but at least the story is much better to having a video game elements that we all know, instead of cheap human and creature buddy adventure.
The Presentation
For the film's presence, it looks like before, but with new location and of course, ew characters, and the budget is slightly higher about $90–110 million.
For starter, the filming of Green Hills, Montana is still taken place in Vancouver, which we all know that Montana may have a pretty mountains, but looked so Canadian-ish. Although, they also filmed in Hawaii for taking place on Rachel's "Wedding" for Tom and Maddie's vacation, which is a nice place to include. There's also taken place in Serbia for finding the temple with compass, which is not bad for the use of CG to studio stage. And there's the maze to finding a Master Emerald, which it may look cool, but ended up generic when they put random death tracks like axes, spikes, a fire, darts and spiky bolder, the latter of which is just plain cartoonish. There's also a Mushroom planet, which looks cool, but gimmicky that its just.... A planet with full of shrooms.
As for the characters animation, Sonic remains the same as we all know, i still find him not only accurate, but also cute. But you know who's also cute? Tails himself, at first, its nice to having Tails in this movie for of course, depicted as a young sidekick as we know in the game, but when they brought Knuckles, like i said, when i saw in trailer, it was a big surprise. Both of them looked pretty good and like always accurate from the game, from Tails looks cute to Knuckles looks badass. Of course, Dr. Robotnik made a new look, but his look is also similar in the game with bald cap wearing and a big mustache, though Jim Carrey was suggested to wearing a fat suit to be accurate from the game, but they preferred skinny Jim Carrey, aw well, im cool with it.
As for the action, it always looks pretty cool from Sonic chasing away from robots in mountain at Serbia, the car chase and even Sonic vs Knuckles, the latter of which takes a lot of challenge for Sonic to dealing with strongarm (no pun attended) Echidna. Those action scenes are fun to watch, even if the jokes could be an endurance of either it works or failed. Speaking of which, in the scene of bar at Serbia that i was expecting for a fight club style, but instead it goes to the battle of... Dance off?? Uhhh yeah, i know it was meant to be comedic, but why?? But il maybe give a credit that the choreograph is pretty good.
While the action and character appearance remains the same and looks pretty good, but sometimes, some moments that question the purpose like the aforementioned Serbian bar scene.
The Characters
For this sequel, while the characters are probably remains the same, but they have a changing development that i may like.
Lets start with Sonic himself (reprised by Ben Schwartz), like before, he's a cocky and brash blue hedgehog with super speed, while he's fun one, but sometimes, you can probably un-hearing his cheap jokes. In this movie, aside of same questionable jokes, while he likes to be hero on Earth, but his reckless and brash is getting too much for his own which it concerns to Tom and possibly losing interest by the citizens for his action that he's find the way to be careful as a hero in like i said, the most cliché element in this movie. Aside the same problems i have, Sonic in this movie is kinda better than before that he tries to be confident without being to recklessly selfish before he befriends with Tails. Despite the problem, but at least Ben Schwartz still did a fun work of his role.
Speaking of fun, how about our old friend Dr. Robotnik (reprised by of course, Jim Carrey), as we all know, he's a crazed mad scientist for hunting down Sonic. in this sequel, while he remains the same, but rather than trying to take our hedgehog out of picture, he's aware about the Master Emerald according to Knuckles for "Ultimate Power". Even though he remains the same as an insane scientist in desperation to kill Sonic, but at least he has a nice new look and Carrey still having a blast of his role that we love to laugh.
But sadly, as im writing this, Jim Carrey might going to retire from movie industry, saying that he's done enough, although when asked for coming back, he said he's gonna take a break from acting, only he approve for the script that quote "written in gold ink". Well, i guess you can say, he's going into semi-retirement, especially if he's gonna be play Dr. Robotnik one last time if they're gonna make a third installment.
And there's Tom Wachowski (reprised by James Marsden) who's not the only the sheriff at Green Hills, but he's also the father figure to Sonic. Though im glad he's gonna be a sidekick since before (due to obvious reason), but might have a purpose, in particular, telling Sonic for his concern for her personality gone too far as a cocky hero that he just not only be safe to the citizens, but also for, you guess it "Power of friendship". Look, i get they wanted to show Sonic a respect, but come on, this isn't My Little Pony that we're talking about. I know he's trying to giving a plot advice to Sonic, but he's pretty much nearly throw away character, since he's going on a vacation to Hawaii. While Marsden did a fine work of his role, but sadly nearly out of focus.
For the returns, there really not much else tell, as well with some that i did chuckle, Maddie Wachowski (reprised by Tika Sumpter) who's veterinarian and Tom's wife for also in a trip, Rachel (reprised by Natasha Rothwell) who's Maddie's sister who has a dislike on Tom, but she does have a chance to shine, for better or for worse, Wade Whipple (reprised by Adam Pally) who's the deputy sheriff of Green Hills and Tom's best bud that he took the role as sheriff when Tom left which thankfully have a plot purpose (I kinda like him) and Agent Stone (reprised by Lee Majdoub) who's Robotnik's assistant and coffee maker which i have to admit, he does made me chuckle for his moment, though maybe not as funnier as Jim Carrey, but again, nice for him.
So what about the new characters? Well, only two that we have in the movie. Sucks for only two new characters, but at least its nice what we have in a sequel.
First is Miles "Tails" Prower (voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey since the cliffhanging ending from the first), a young two-tailed fox comes to Earth to help with Sonic due to noticing his supersonic speed power and being a smart one. He's definitely a well-deserved sidekick in the movie like in the game, but he may have some flaws, but at least i find him also cute, even if he's curious about Earth, but i also appreciate to following up his origin where he was mocked by someone because of his two tails, and yet he's confident to using his tails like as Sonic's choppa, but at least his flight is unlimited than the game itself. Of course, Colleen did a good work of his role of Tails since Sonic Team Racing.
And we have Knuckles (voiced by... Wait, Idris Elba again?! Seriously, you can't escape this man!), a badass echidna who works with Dr. Robotnik, due to looking after the Master Emerald that contains Ultimate Power and also claimed to be the last echidna from many years ago for the war between echidnas and owls. He's a surprise inclusion in the movie, but in fairness, he's a fascinating side-villain in this movie, especially having his tragic past for why he's left alone to be safe and seeks revenge over his dead father and his kind, even if its also cliché, but nice and surprise to have him in the movie, even though Idris did a pretty good work for voice acting as always, but jeez, how many movies that i watched him?
While some old pals are welcome return, but the new characters are a nice inclusion like Tails and Knuckles, even though i won't bother to talk about the new humans that i decided to skip. Aw well, at least the voice and acting are good.
And now for my final opinion of this film
Overall, Sonic the hedgehog 2 is a pretty good and possibly an improvement over the first one that i can agree with that with good story to kinda following up from the game, the characters had some nice update (for the most part), the actions are good, the character designs of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles are not only good but also accurate, and some jokes that i did chuckled.
However, despite the improvement, the movie still has the problem from the first film with some jokes that while it works for some, especially Jim Carrey's funny and memorable role, but some are just cheap and dumb, some of them are ended up being replaced when they used to be sidekick and the pacing is kinda all over, despite the action scenes are fascinating.
Even though its a good film, but still having a same problem from the first one, so if you're a fan of Sonic, maybe you'll considering it as a best and improvement over the first one, or if you have a same feeling as i am, i'd say, you can watch it maybe less than five times. Or otherwise, stick to playing video games with Sonic.
For my rating, since this is a slight improvement, im probably gonna give a 7/10, where as the first one as 6.5/10. Aw well, at least its kinda better than before.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
