Sonic The Hedgehog 2 review

 

Sonic is back and back in a big way. After his first movie outing that I personally really enjoyed can it's sequel which promises to be bigger and better actually live up to those promises?? we're back in Green Hills a suburb of Seattle. Sonic is quickly becoming a household name for not the greatest of reasons as he has taken it upon himself to play hero and try to stop all manner of crimes in the area. Deemed Blue Justice he gets a talking to by his human father (James Marsden) which leads to him taking things a little more slowly even if that means being a stay at home hedgehog when both of his human companions take a trip away to Hawaii to attend a wedding. Sonic is left alone and he parties it up big time all while a new friend and an old enemy reemerge. 

Speaking of old enemies reemerging Sonic 2 opens up with Doctor Eggman himself Jim Carrey still very much stuck in a world full of Mushrooms thanks to what happened at the end of the first movie. He is alone and is pretty much going off his rocker at least more so than normal. His luck changes however when he hatches up a scheme of using the quill he still has which belonged to Sonic to power up a device that sends out a beacon of sorts. What comes to him is none other than the character of Knuckles The Echidna. The two agree to work together to find the ultimate power and stop Sonic once and for all. Jim Carrey is just fantastic here once again as Eggman he is totally insane to the point of hilarity. His inventions and urge to fit in with the youth by using certain popular language and words is delightful to watch. He is the perfect villain to Sonic and the gang here. Speaking of Sonic he is a lot more developed here than the first movie. He not only learns to not always be the hero but when to pick his moments. It's something we've obviously seen before but it works really well here as Sonic's journey from beginning of being alone to the end being with new friends is just great to watch. 

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 isn't perfect, far from it but it's a highly enjoyable sequel that builds upon the original in so many ways. The action is more fast paced, the scale and stakes are bigger and overall the relationships developed between Sonic The Hedgehog, Tails The Fox and Knuckles The Echidna is pure video game bliss more so if you've played any of the Sonic games. The final battle for the Chaos Emerald and ultimately the Master Emerald is absolutely huge and ends in the most satisfying way possible. Sonic 2 builds so much on the original and like I said is just a highly enjoyable time. It's not perfect but it's pretty close as it's full of fast paced moments, great comedy and a great understanding of what makes Blue Justice himself iconic. Act 2 has just well and truly been mastered. 

★★★★