Early Sonic the Hedgehog 2 reviews are pouring in and are generally favorable on the fast-paced and entertaining video game adaptation sequel. Once again directed by Jeff Fowler, the new movie picks up sometime after the events of its surprise hit predecessor as Sonic struggles to find his place as a hero in the world while his human friends Tom and Maddie head to Hawaii for Rachel's wedding. When Doctor Eggman returns from the mushroom planet with the help of Knuckles the Echidna and sets out in search of the power Master Emerald, Sonic must team up with new friend Miles "Tails" Prower to save the world once again.
Ben Schwartz is leading the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in the titular role alongside returning stars James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally and Jim Carrey as Robotnik. The sequel will also mark the burgeoning franchise debuts of Shemar Moore as Rachel's fiancé Randall, Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Tails after cameoing in the first film and Idris Elba as Knuckles. Anticipation is building to an all-time high as Sonic the Hedgehog 2 races to theaters next week and now audiences are getting their first insight into how the film holds up in comparison to its predecessor.
With just over a week remaining until the film's release, early Sonic the Hedgehog 2 reviews have begun rolling out and critics are looking generally favorable upon the sequel. Though criticizing it for being much of the same as its predecessor and overstaying its welcome, reviews are praising the film for its humor, ensemble cast and further embrace of its video game mythology. Check out some of the reviews below:
John Nugent, Empire:
Sonic’s second outing is little more than a half-baked half-term distraction tool — though Jim Carrey’s outrageously committed performance nearly saves the day.
Justin Lowe, THR:
Overstuffed with frantic action and framed by Sonic’s wisecracking commentary, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will appeal to family audiences seeking holiday distractions even if it doesn’t break new ground elaborating the franchise’s sprawling universe of intersecting characters and plotlines.
Peter Debruge, Variety:
An hour and a half would’ve been a perfectly fine run-time, whereas at two hours and change, “Sonic 2” wears out its welcome well before it turns into yet another phone-it-in franchise entry — the kind where storms gather, a column of fluorescent light shoots up to the sky and everything becomes apocalyptic.
Carlos Aguilar, The Wrap:
Proof that one can elevate a mostly disposable franchise investing in the casting and screenplay, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” doesn’t harbor any illusions of being a beacon of cinema, but within its department as “the harmless option for family viewing during Spring Break,” it offers enough surprises to more pleasant than unbearable. Of course, the conclusion teases an upcoming third chapter, which hopefully doesn’t spoil the formula.
Bradley Russell, Total Film:
While the joke hit rate isn’t as high as it should be, there are still laugh-out-loud moments to be had. A liberal sprinkling of adult gags – including a glorious eye roll of a mushroom pun – keep Sonic 2 from being a kids-only affair.
Jade King, TheGamer:
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is an improvement on the first film in every conceivable way. Not only is it bigger, better, and understands why these characters work all the more, it also advances the formula and establishes a future for this cinematic universe that I’m eager to see explored.
Emma Jane-Betts, The Digital Fix:
However, with more jokes, more fun, and more creativity, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is one of those rare cases where a sequel manages to live up to its predecessor. And even rarer a case – it beats the first movie in terms of capturing the heart and soul of the game franchise on which it sets out to adapt for the big screen.
Leslie Felperin, The Guardian:
There’s not much to spoil about Sonic the Hedgehog 2 because there’s not very much to say about it, other than it’s mildly amusing and reasonably competently assembled.
Tim Grierson, Screen Daily:
The film is consistently undercut by how familiar its construction is. Aggressively referencing everything from Ghostbusters to Transformers, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is a mishmash of other event pictures, with Fowler trying to make a joke of the story’s obvious cinematic benchmarks. (During one action sequence that heavily borrows from Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Sonic coyly declares that he does not want to die in such a derivate way.) But the meta humour, alongside the same stale quips as in the first film, does not make the sequel any wittier because of its self-awareness.
Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy:
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a more confident movie than its predecessor, delivering the same blend of frenetic family fun and nostalgic beats for the long-time fans. Ironically for a movie about a speedy hedgehog, the issue this time around is that it all goes on a bit too long.
Sean Keane, CNET:
Despite this diversion, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the confident sequel the original left me hoping for, with a sharper script and jokes that'll leave you giggling. It maintains the original's family friendly tone and dives into the classic games to create a cinematic universe for Sega's beloved icon -- that '90s sense of adventure lives on.
The early Sonic the Hedgehog 2 reviews appear to be largely in line with that of its predecessor and early reaction as many critics praise its sense of heart and family-friendly humor while taking issue with the predictability of its story. Given the bar was set low for the original Sonic the Hedgehog movie and left many critics happily surprised, netting it a 63 percent approval rating on review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes, the fact that many reviews for the sequel fall in line with the first is sure to come as positive sign for fans of the movie. At the time of writing, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 similarly sits at a 63 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though with only a dozen or so reviews currently tallied the pendulum could easily swing in either direction.
One of the main points of criticisms in the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 early reviews is the film's extended runtime, clocking in at 122 minutes, making it 23 minutes longer than its predecessor. With the sequel expanding its narrative scope to introduce Knuckles and set up the planned Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Knuckles TV spin-off show, it's understandable that it would need a little more time to properly establish the future, though whether audiences share the feeling of it having been too long is yet to be seen. The wait for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is nearly over as it hits theaters on April 8.
Sources: Various [see links above]
