When the first film of this franchise debuted back in 2020 it was a surprise. It was way more endearing than the premise would lead one to believe. Its simple take on family dynamics added to its success. Now we have the follow-up and it’s a real mixed bag.
This sequel ramps things up considerably and loses sight of what made the first edition so charming. It was always going to be silly and that’s not necessarily a deterrent to having fun. It just now feels bloated and trying too hard to be entertaining.
There are some amusing gags and enjoyable homages to classic films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Raiders of the Lost Ark but it never comfortably finds its comic groove. The visuals have been elevated at the expense of character development.
Bigger is not always better and viewing Sonic The Hedgehog 2 makes you wish they had taken a less extreme approach. There is still a charming undercurrent beneath it all, it just gets buried under all the unnecessary bombast.
Rob Hudson
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