Back for more
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ an actionfilled rehash – but kids will love it
In the revered tradition of Hollywood sequels, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” basically recycles all the major elements of the first, much better one, a hugely successful animated comedy based on the Sega videogame.
That 2020 hit was unusual in that in its vivid mix of live action and animation was married with a technical elan that was a marvel in itself.
The first “Sonic” introduced happy couple Maddie and Tom Wachowski (Tika Sumpter and James Marsden), who shelter and befriend the animated “Blue Blur,” the speedy alien Sonic (again, distinctively voiced by Ben Schwartz) and face down a wildly unhinged Dr. Robotnik (an inspired Jim Carrey). It was an engaging story with emotional currency.
Sequelitis means that those aspects are downgraded and mostly disappear in favor of frequent bouts of action, a new adversary in the red alien Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) and lengthy intervals without a sign of Carrey’s wickedly crazy high jinks.
This is a mostly mindless effort, although its elaborately complicated plotting remains compelling enough and easy enough to understand judging from the vocal approval, laughs and clapping of the many kids in the screening theater who were having the time of their lives.
The highlight is strangely not a diminished Carrey’s Robotnik but a farcical, furious Hawaiian wedding — which if you want to know where it’s taking place, it’s the Four Seasons! We’re told that twice in case we missed the reference the first time.
Here, under sunny skies, Maddie’s sister Rachel (Natasha Rothwell) prepares to walk down the proverbial aisle to marry Randall (Shemar Moore) when suddenly everything changes.
And that means everything! There is an attack, shocking but true revelations and … no wedding.
Rothwell is hilarious as she pivots without even blinking into a Bridezilla ready, eager, determined and, you can guess, furious beyond belief to wreak revenge-filled havoc. The Four Seasons has never seen a tropical storm with such fury.
Overlong at two hours and much too predictable, “Sonic 2” hopefully will pave the way for a return to humor, relationships and Rothwell in the inevitable “Sonic 3.” “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” opens in theaters Friday, with advance screenings today.