What do we talk about, when we talk about Sonic the Hedgehog? We talk about a Sega video-game character yes, but we also talk about a cultural icon, an exuberant sprite who seems to have no problem making the kind of jump that the likes of Super Mario or Max Payne couldn’t; right into the movies, and catching several gold rings in the process. Sonic the Hedgehog was a hit, pandemic or not, and the huge popularity of Sonic 2 illustrates that there are, for cinema audiences, some things more important than matters of life and death. So put your doubts away and settle back to enjoy the speed-run stylings of Sonic the Hedgehog!
Sonic 2 picks up where the first film left off; Sonic has re-invented himself as a Batman-style crime fighter, and a vigilante. This career-change sits uneasily with his adoptive parents Tom and Maddie Wachowsci (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter), but Sonic persuades them to head for Hawaii and the marriage of Maddie’s sister Rachel. But the sudden emergence of rival echidna Knuckles (Idris Elba) heralds the unwanted return of Sonic’s nemesis, Dr Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and their search for the magical Green Emerald has only just begin…
While the first film was a fairly solid, well-crafted family film, it did have one outrageous breakout sequence; much in the manner of Quicksilver in the X-Men films, Sonic resolves a series of bar-room brawls, sliding around the crowded room to the pulsating rhythms of X Ambassadors Sonic-friendly song Boom. There’s nothing quite that propulsive in Jeff Fowler’s sequel, although parents will appreciate the funky choice of needle-drops from Run DMC’s It’s Tricky to the classic Uptown Funk and Ini Kamozi’s seminal dance-anthem Here’s Comes the Hotstepper. The story is a mess of portals and vortexes, but it’s also laden with entry-level pop culture references, including a Limp Bizkit slam and amusing riffs on everything from Risky Business to Indiana Jones.
‘There are good people on both sides,’ snarls Carrey’s Dr Robotnik, just in case the political subtext wasn’t clear enough; Carrey is clearly having a blast as a moustache-twirling villain described as ‘Professor X meets Monopoly Man’. Shots of Robotnik guzzling popcorn while Sonic and Knuckles fight are decidedly meme friendly, as is the whole slick venture. It’s cynical, it’s commercial, and yet Sonic’s little blue heart is in the right place; any film that climaxes with Sonic reaching his hand to the audience and saying ‘You don’t have to be alone any more’ deserves bonus rings and an extra play for straight-up positive messaging for Easter 2022.
lol
Unfortunately, I came to this after watching the momentous, astonishing RRR, a three-hour epic that deserves a bigger audience. So I was probably expecting more. I had enjoyed the first Sonic which I thought was refreshing but I felt this fell into the trap of too many characters and the daft FBI plot to include Marsden etc. But clearly audiences are going for it big-style which is what the industry needs.
Some films suffer from triple bills; nothing worse that filling the gap after a blistering showstopper. I think this is more consistent than Sonic 1, and that is the hill I may well die on…
BTW. He looks NOTHING, NOTHING II tell you, like a hedgehog. FacT!
Calm down missus! He’s no normal hedgehog!
Ohshima pitched the concept framed by a fictional fighter pilot that had earned the name “Hedgehog” due to his spiky hair, and had decorated his plane with images of Sonic. When this pilot retired, he married a children’s book author, who wrote stories about the Sonic character, the first which became the plot for the first Sonic game; Ohshima stated that this influence can be seen in the logo of the game, which features Sonic in a pilot’s wing emblem…
…so he’s a fighter pilot.
Well that’s alright then.
Thank you! I’ll have my mom check in when she’s awake……..
Can I crowdfund my new textbook From Edna Ferber to Sonic the Hedgehog: The Greats of Cinema Discussed?
How did you talk go?
And what’s your problem with Sonic?
Actually, no major issue with Sonic. Not my thing – never played the game, and not much for cartoons. But if people like it, it’s all good with me. The talk is tomorrow night – stopped by this morning to check out the room and logistics. Today I’m tweaking the presentation and practicing. Excited and a little nervous….I’ll let you know how it goes!
Sonic is a loveable little critter, NOT a cartoon, and both of these films have a nice old-school Hollywood feel. You can read more about it in my new book Sonic The Hedghog and Cinematic Iterations of the Other (Weaselthob and Gettersnob Academic Publications, $189.99 paperback or vellum)
Good luck with the presentation!
No. No. No. Not even if you paid me.
Sonic and James Marsden are the Bogart and Bacall of 2022. Fact!
(Hello Eddie, this is Melanie’s cat Blinker
[(Hello Eddie, this is Melanie’s cat Blinker] Melanie can’t respond right now, after she read your last comment, she clutched her heart, moaned that cinema was dead, and fell face down on the floor. So….who’s gonna get my lunch?
Now I have the full story. I’ll mail you some treats, Blinker, hang on in there. blu ray copy of Sonic the Hedgehog included!
Hello Blinker! How are you?
Hungry!
Hold on, I’ll see what I have. Biscuits or chicken?
Carnivore here!
Chicken it is! Just stay calm and I’ll notify emergency film critic services, normally just 15 mins away…
Not like you to be happy with so much CGI.
Illicit substances. Bootleg canadian maple syrup, gets the newbies every time. They just don’t know their limits.
Of course, we ALL know who his dealer is too….
Boba Fett?
….. is ALWAYS a correct answer.
We do?
his name rhymes with Smalex? hint hint hint….
Are you saying Alex IS Boba Fett? 4 reals?
Fo Reelz!
🤣 I’m there.
No better way to tell the story of a funny blue hedgehog!
So it would seem.
Indeed.
I never got further than level 2 in the original game. I still plan on giving the movies a go. Somtime.
I liked the games, but never got too far either. The movies are as good as you might hope.
Never played the games. So the movies haven’t held any appeal to me. If they ever show up free on prime I’d give them a go though. Not sure that will ever happen though.
Both movies have been well worthwhile, and can be recommended even to you.
Come on prime, do your thing! (rolls the dice for free movies on prime)
Dang, I didn’t roll the “free movies”. Maybe by the time I’m 80?
Something to look forward to in your twlight years, watching Sonic for free on prime.
I shall write this down in my journal now so I don’t forget. If civilization has crashed, I fully expect you to boat over here and act out the whole thing for me, complete with sound effects…
That’s in the small print of the blog, I firmly commit to doing this if and when society collapses. Both films?
Yeah, I’ll take the twofer. I’ll need something to entertain me as I fight off the horde of cannibals wandering the land….
Great, I’ll organise my costumes…
If I didn’t see the first Sonic movie, would there be any point watching this?
What I mean to say is, Nope.
Turn that frown upside down, Bunty, both the Sonic movies are great fun, and you dodnt need to see one to enjoy the other. Fact! Lots of fun, music, comedy and laughs with Sonic!