SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2

US, 2022, 116 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Colleen O'Shanussy. Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub.

Directed by Jeff Fowler.

There’s nothing like a video game popularity, especially amongst younger players (and their parents?) To help towards decisions to make feature films. The first Sonic the Hedgehog film was popular and a commercial success. And, it would seem, that this sequel will easily follow in its footsteps – and, at the end, all kinds of prospects for further Sonic adventures.

Sonic himself seems the least likely of world heroes, so it just goes to show! Small, blue, like a child, but with that capacity for absolute fast motion. And, there is a nice sheriff and his wife, James Marsden and Tika Sumpter, already having proved their niceness and care for Sonic, ready to join in these adventures as well.

Which means then that the screenplay offers all kinds of entertainment for the younger audiences Sonic himself, a friend, Tails, a little fox with two tails, and an echidna from outer space, Knuckles, with whom there will be an ultimate reconciliation and plans for further adventures.

But, in the meantime, the arch-villain from the first film, Dr Robotnik, has been stranded on a mushroom planet in outer space. He is the most dastardly of the dastardly, a huge moustache, severe eyes, dressed in pilot’s uniform. And, we first met him in the first film, in the form of Jim Carrey. For older generations this is an opportunity to see the Jim Carrey of old, all eccentric mannerisms and grimaces, oddball dialogue which it would seem he wrote himself.

The whole point of the adventure this time is that there is an emerald that gives power over the world, Dr Robotnik searching for it, Knuckles wanting it for better purposes, and It entrusted by the wise owl to Sonic to find it and preserve it.

So, a lot of animated adventures to please the young audience, enough knockabout comedy and eccentric characters to entertain the youngest. And, to keep the adult audience attention, there is comedy with those characters, especially a wedding in Hawaii which goes disastrously awry.

The climax, Dr Robotnik with the emerald, able to build a gigantic monstrosity which he inhabits, ready to crush anyone in its path, animated characters or humans, but defeated by the team work of the trio of Knuckles, Tails and Sonic. And there is time out for heartfelt talks and advice about responsibility, helping others, teamwork.

1. The popularity of the video games? The first film? The prospect of more adventures?
2. The blend of animated characters with the live-action? The story going beyond the limits of realism?
3. The style of animation, for Sonic, for Knuckles, for Tails? Characters, personalities, appearance? Voices? And interacting with the adult characters?
4. The adult characters, Dr Robotnik and the extreme caricature? The contrast with Tom, Maddie, Rachel and Randall, the sheriff, even Dr Robotnik’s assistant, Stone?
5. This adventure presupposing the first film? Establishing the characters and their interactions? Establishing Dr Robotnik as a Dr Evil?
6. Dr Robotnik, exiled on the planet, his plans to escape, the opening and the elaborate setup of the mushrooms and stones, finding the drink? His character, manner, Jim Carrey’s style? The arrival of Knuckles, the pretended collaboration, the piece punch? Leaving and returning to earth? Dr Robotnik, his quest, pursuit of Sonic? The special powers? The greed for the emerald?
7. Sonic, young, enjoying life, Tom and Maddie going to the wedding, their being his parents? The mayhem at home, clearing it up? The owl and the vision? The map, the goal?
8. Tail, two tails, arriving, the reputation of Sonic, Tail and the vehicle, all kinds of adjuncts?
9. The quest, the ring and travel, Siberia, lost, the encounter with the Russians, the dancing competition? The travel, two Hawaii, the disaster at the wedding? Tom and the wrong ring?
10. Tom and Maddie, going to the wedding, Rachel and Randall, Rachel wary of Tom? The ceremony, the rings, the interruption, the chaos, the various agents, Randall revealed as an agent, the setup of the wedding, the head agent? Maddie and Rachel and their plotting?
11. The action in the ocean, the manifestation of the emerald, Dr Robotnik and Knuckles hastening towards the island, finding the emerald? Dr Robotnik taking possession, getting rid of Knuckles?
12. Sonic, Tail, getting to the island, sonic and his fear of water and drowning, the speed to the island, the encounter with Knuckles, each saving the other, collaborating?
13. Dr Robotnik, the power, creating the huge creature, monster? Inside and miming the movements? The comments? Destruction in the town? His work with Stone, the sheriff suspicious about the diner shut? Dr Robotnik and the headquarters and equipment?
14. Teamwork, the trio, working together, the plan to bring down the monster? Sonic as the destruction, Knuckles and the attack, tail and the various manoeuvres?
15. Success, Dr Robotnik failing, Sonic finding new friends, prospects? Tom and Maddie as parents?
16. In the morals throughout the film, especially about responsibility and helping others, teamwork?