Things can’t slow down for Sonic when Dr. Robotnik returns with a new accomplice with a specific grudge against the speedy hedgehog. Thankfully, a two-tailed fox arrives to help but can the two fight off the might and technology of Robotnik and Knuckles?
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) – Director: Jeff Fowler
Rating: PG
Running Length: 122 mins
Starring: Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Jim Carrey
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy
REVIEW: ‘SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2’
Based upon the eponymous Sega videogames about a superfast hedgehog who collects rings, 2020’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ brought the character back into pop culture for the new generation and with a satisfying stand alone story. Being such a surprise hit, a sequel was bound to follow so here we have ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’.
Sonic himself (Ben Schwartz) is the right level of cheeky, childish and kind to make him likeable without him being saccharine sweet, and the excellent Jim Carrey brings his chaotic energy to villain Dr. Robotnik. The other characters provide solid support for these two and are well rounded enough to not pull away from the fast pacing and snappy dialogue. I very much enjoyed the first film but I can honestly say that, like ‘Paddington 2‘ before it, this sequel is even better. It has a low stakes side plot that is engaging and genuinely hilarious which allows the audience to take a breather every now and then from the main action without slowing down the proceedings, yet everything comes together beautifully towards the end.
It is truly delightful to find a film that the whole family can enjoy and ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ is certainly one of them. Strap on your sneakers and let this wonderful movies send you loop the loop!
CONTENT: IS ‘SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2’ SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?
Dr. Robotnik has been banished to a planet covered in mushrooms. Desperate to escape, he announces that it’s time to leave ‘this piece of shitake planet’.
Knuckles, a red echidna, enters the movie via a portal. The lighting, music and camera angles show him to be a very intimidating figure.
There is a car chase involving police and criminals in balaclavas. While the atmosphere of the scene is kept light with Sonic wise-cracking throughout, the criminals are quite nasty and throw several bombs out of their van at the cops which explode and have the potential to hurt someone.
A character tells another ‘If I die, don’t look in my closet!’
Sonic is left at home alone for a few days and immediately trashes the house. He manages to tidy and fix everything easily, however this scene may encourage kids to imitate this behaviour.
While Sonic is alone at his house, there is a power cut and it becomes clear that he isn’t, in fact, alone when he sees a silhouette of another character on the wall. The scene is quite scary and intense for a few minutes.
There is a gratuitous shot of topless men which is an entirely comedic moment, however some parents may be uncomfortable with children seeing this.
Sonic and Tails find themselves in a bar in Siberia and, as the people there have never seen creatures like them before, they threaten to, ‘Throw these monsters into the fire’. They are about to do this but things change and the pair aren’t in danger for too long.
A character discovers that some of the people around her are not who they seemed and exclaims ‘The woman who waxed my … at the spa?!’
Some characters drink alcohol, including Mai Tai cocktails and a woman, in an emotional state, drinks champagne from the bottle.
When Sonic devises a plan to defeat Robotnik, he tells those with him to ‘Go for the groin’ as that is the weak point. He then realises his place in situation and declares ‘I’m the groin!’
CAN I SEE A CLIP?
VERDICT: IS ‘SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2’ FOR KIDS?
An excellent sequel and one for all the family, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ will leave you wanting more. Although we feel this movie should be suitable for all ages, parents may wish to supervise younger kids due to a few scary moments.
- Violence: 2/5 (lots of fight scenes involving punches and kicks although they are cartoony and action based so not distressing. Knuckles is a ruthless fighter so his aggression towards Sonic is a little stronger than the rest)
- Emotional Distress: 1/5 (Sonic remembers Long Claw (who died in the first movie) and is sad for a few seconds)
- Fear Factor: 2/5 (Knuckles is intimidating and there is very little light relief when he’s on screen)
- Sexual Content: 2/5 (men and women are seen in swimsuits)
- Bad Language: 2/5 (mild cursing and blasphemy as well as words used in the place of curse words like ‘holy sherbert’. Plenty of childish insults)
- Dialogue: 0/5
- Other Notes: Deals with themes of family, revenge, feuds, betrayal and teamwork.
Words by Laura Record