Following his heroic exploits in the first movie, Sonic (Ben Schwartz) is living with his adopted parents Tom and Maddie Wachowski (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter) while trying to relax. But things take an unexpected turn when Robotnik (Jim Carrey) returns from a mushroom planet to seek out an all-powerful emerald that could destroy all life on Earth.
Story
After his time in Green Hills with Tom and Maddie (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter), Sonic is eager for more adventures. When he takes Tom and Tails fishing, Sonic discovers that being a hero isn’t always about saving the world – it’s also about looking out for those you care about.
Dr. Robotnik returns from the Mushroom Planet, where he’d been stranded, with Knuckles, an echidna voiced by Idris Elba. He’s after an emerald that can build or destroy civilizations; but when Sonic and Tails locate it, Robotnik and Knuckles stand in their way.
Sonic and Tails devise a plan to take down Robotnik’s giant Eggman robot and Master Emerald that lies inside. By harnessing its power, they become Super Sonic and defeat Robotnik. Once the Eggman Robot is destroyed, Knuckles reforges seven Chaos Emeralds that formed the Master Emerald back into one single Emerald.
Voice Acting
Sonic 2 brings some of the beloved characters from the video game franchise to the big screen, including Colleen O’Shaughnessy who voices Tails (voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessy). She has been portraying this role since 2014 in both video games and cartoons alike.
Knuckles the Echidna is an anthropomorphic creature from Sonic’s universe, voiced by Idris Elba from Cats. Like Robotnik, this echidna is a fierce warrior who joins Dr. Eggman on his search for an emerald that holds powerful magic.
Elba’s casting choice is particularly impressive, considering his past live-action roles in movies. He perfectly captures the character’s short temper and trusty nature, adding another layer to the story, making it all the more captivating.
Paramount Studios finally gave in to fan demand and placed O’Shaughnessey at the forefront of Sonic 2, an act that could help raise voice actors’ profile within Hollywood. But could this also be Paramount proving that there is no valid hierarchy between live action and animation that places live actors at the top?
Animated Characters
Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most beloved video game characters ever. He’s an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog with the power to speak and run, as well as star of his own TV show and Disney’s Wreck it Ralph movies.
Sonic may seem like a childish figure, but his heart of gold shines through in his silly jokes and wisecracks. That makes Sonic an appealing hero to both kids and adults alike.
Sonic 2 boasts stunning animation that faithfully replicates their video game counterparts. The team worked closely with MPC’s Character Lab to recreate Sonic, Tails and Knuckles to match their original designs in both animation and real-world photography.
Colleen O’Shaughnessy voices Tails, a two-tailed flying fox voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessy who has provided English dubbing for various anime including Sora Takenouchi in Digimon and Ino Yamanaka in Naruto. While Tails’ character is enjoyable, his story feels underdeveloped.
Soundtrack
123 movies Sonic 2 offers an eclectic blend of musical styles. From rock, blues and jazz, you’re sure to be transported back to your childhood memories with each listen.
Tom Holkenborg composed the main soundtrack of the movie, who also created the iconic 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog movie. His skill in music composition allows each level to sound unique.
Though not as strong as its predecessor, Sonic 2 still manages to capture viewers’ attention. This could be partly attributed to being directed more at adults rather than children.
Alcohol plays a prominent role in the film, both through excessive drinking and references to it. It contributes to the atmosphere created by many scenes where characters will either be sipping on alcohol or directly from bottles.
