Launched by Sega at first of the Nineties, the zippy blue hairball Sonic the Hedgehog is now formally over the hill and selecting up velocity onscreen. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” is a fast-paced romp that’s foolish, stuffed with quips and unabashedly for kids — which is refreshing, coming at a time when so many different kids’s franchises have succumbed to Sturm und Drang.
This full-tilt sequel by the returning director Jeff Fowler and the screenwriters Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington finds Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) struggling to chill out along with his adopted dad and mom, Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter). Their small city is invaded by two animated extraterrestrials: Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), a flying fox who needs to make buddies, and Knuckles (Idris Elba), a dog-like bruiser who needs to make mincemeat of anybody who will get between him and an omnipotent whiz-bang of a weapon referred to as the Grasp Emerald.
Issues proceed as one would possibly anticipate, however the highway is suffering from bits of lunacy that preserve the viewers on its toes. Whereas the gags could be a hair too reliant on popular culture references — Limp Bizkit and Pantera? — the script has a uncommon affection for even small characters like Maddie’s quarrelsome sister (Natasha Rothwell), who will get to strut away with probably the most memorable struggle scene.
Nonetheless, there’s solely up to now sass can get you, and, as within the final film, issues would sputter to a halt with out Jim Carrey’s efficiency because the fiendish Dr. Robotnik. Carrey might have created the very best PG-movie villain in many years: a wonderfully calibrated comedy machine whose preening, glowering and annoyed sputtering someway nonetheless appear spur of the second. Not too long ago, Carrey urged that he would possibly retire from appearing. If these movies actually do grow to be Carrey’s goodbye, he’s leaving Hollywood with a farewell present: His built-for-the-big-screen exuberance would possibly simply hook this technology of youngsters on the enjoyment of going to film theaters.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Rated PG. Working time: 2 hours 2 minutes. In theaters.