the return of the blue hedgehog in a family film and faithful to the video game

Barely two years after the release of the first part, sonic 2 invites itself to cinemas, directed by the director of the first opus, Jeff Flower. This second episode of the adventures of the super fast hedgehog, muse of Sega game consoles in the 90s, is presented as a more ambitious sequel in terms of action and humor, while following the scenario left in suspense at the end of the movie released in 2020.

Well established in the small town of Green Hills, Sonic now wants to prove that he has what it takes to be a true hero. A daunting challenge awaits him when his nemesis, Doctor Robotnik, reappears after disappearing into another dimension. Accompanied by his new accomplice Tails, the two-tailed fox, he goes in search of a powerful artifact called the Emerald Mother. If this gem fell into the wrong hands, it could destroy all of humanity. Then begins a journey around the world, full of adventures.

Iand charm of sonic 2 comes from his tribute to the original video games, ranging from the Megadrive home consoles of the 90s to those of the Dreamcast in the early 2000s. Cinephiles discover what makes the universe of the blue hedgehog so charming, its colorful decorations: a teehidden example, a maze filled with deadly traps, snow-capped mountains or a raging ocean. Which onehe film alludes, more or less subtly, to the environments of the Sega games which offered players this emblematic license, in particular the game Sonic 2, released in 1992, from which the cinema poster was deliberately inspired.

All this accompanied by sound effects so unique to the first Sonic gamesofobjects iconic of the series like EChaos Emeralds and many other surprises. The photography of the feature film accentuates this tribute and great care has been taken both in the costumes and in the designs of the mascots of Sega, Tails or Sonic.

The universe of the blue hedgehog finds itself, like the video game, in a constant one-upmanship, symbolized by the superspeed of its main character. Or by the performance of the actor Jim Carrey, who is completely loose in the costume of a crazy Dr. Robotnik. The 60-year-old American actor brings an assumed picturesque side to the film and a superb megalomaniac madness. He is assisted in his humorous scenes by his faithful henchman from the first film, camped by the Canadian actor Lee Majdoub.

And he is not the only one to excel in the one-upmanship because a new hero has come to complete the distribution: Knuckles, an aggressive ball of spines doubled by an Idris Elba with a strongly rocky voice in the original version. The big-muscled echidna steals the show with his comedic interactions with Jim Carrey and intense action scenes with Sonic. If he initially embodies an anti-hero without judgment, the character becomes endearing thereafter.

On the other hand, the humans are a little further back to make room for his special effects characters. Starring are American actors James Marsden and Tika Sumpter, who have played Sonic’s adoptive parents since the first film. However, they are not likely to mark the minds of the spectators, given their largely dispensable comedy scenes. All in an irrelevant wedding sub-plot against a main plot that focuses on the adventures of the characters of Sonic and Tails.

sonic 2 is aimed at a young audience: good news for this adaptation at a time when productions are doing everything to satisfy fans based solely on references to video games with no real script behind it. By opting for a family approach, sonic 2 delivers a breakneck pace when the action kicks in. It’s simple, it never stops when we focus on the duo Sonic and Tails against Knuckles and Dr. Robotnik.

Narrative deviations are also to be noted, with untimely changes of places and characters which tend to stretch an already long film (two hours). Corn sonic 2 remains an entertainment far superior to the first film in terms of action and ambition. He effectively manages to develop the universe of the hero, flatters the fans as it should thanks to his references and respects the spirit of the mascot characters of Sega. A fun and funny movie should put Sonic lovers in joy while a third opus is already in the works.

Gender: entertainment, adventure
Director: Jeff Fowler
Country : United States, Japan
Duration : 2h02
Exit in France : March 30, 2022
Distributer : Paramount Pictures

Synopsis : After settling in Green Hills, sonic feels ready for more freedom. Tom and Maddie then agree to leave him home alone while they go on vacation. But no sooner had they left than the Doctor Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles. He is in search of an emerald that has the power to build and destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his new sidekick, Tails. Together they embark on a journey to find the stone before it falls into the wrong hands.