By: Amanda Guarragi
After the success of the first installment and the VFX team perfecting the character design for Sonic, the character is now beloved by all. This sequel was one of my most anticipated movies of 2022 and it definitely met my expectations. Sonic 2 is on par with the first installment and was exactly what a sequel should be. Director Jeff Fowler brought in more characters; Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and made Robotnik (Jim Carrey) almost unstoppable. This movie had great pacing in the first half and the action pieces were a lot of fun. You get to see a more teenage side of Sonic, which kids can definitely relate to.
In this sequel, Sonic (Ben Schwartz) is eager to prove that he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns with a new partner, Knuckles, in search of a mystical emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands. Sonic goes on a journey of self-discovery in this one with the help of his trusty sidekick Tails. At the beginning of this movie, Sonic has a conversation with Tom (James Marsden) about knowing how to do his job as a hero in Green Hills because he knows how to use his powers. Tom then suggests slowing down a bit and understanding that he’s just a kid and he will grow into a “hero” when the time is right.
Apart from the great action sequences and the polished VFX work, this movie has so much heart. We get to see Tails and Sonic develop a beautiful friendship because they both feel like outsiders. Then Tom and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) make Sonic understand the true meaning of family. Knuckles also goes on a journey of learning who to trust, since Earth is not his host planet. And while all those meaningful life lessons are happening, Jim Carrey is absolutely unhinged as Robotnik. He is even more outrageous than he was in the first movie. All of this is wrapped up in a fun adventure film for the whole family. There are plenty of laughs along the way, but the emotional moments between certain characters are what really ground this film.
Sonic 2 is fun for the whole family and is just as good as the first installment. There are some pacing issues in the third act because it took too long to get to the final battle. But that’s a minor hiccup in a movie that was really fun and entertaining. Knuckles and Tails will become your new favourite characters and you’ll definitely want to see more of them. Can’t forget to mention Natasha Rothwell, who played Maddie’s sister in the film because she stole the spotlight in one section and she had me laughing so hard. You will also want to adopt Tails by the end of the movie because of how adorable his character design is. Seriously, run; don’t walk to the theatres this weekend for Sonic 2.
Candid Cinema 