Sonic the Hedgehog 2 brings back everyone’s favourite blue spiny mammal after the first movie did some brisk business at the box office in 2020 – but it’s a random and pretty lacklustre effort, bar the game efforts of some of its stars, including one Jim Carrey.
The iconic comic actor shines once again in the role of Sonic’s nemesis Dr Ivo Robotnik, harking back to fan favourite performances from The Mask, Ace Ventura and the Grinch. With such a rubber face and particular style of delivery, Carrey is in his element playing a video game villain. It may not be 100% true to the original character, but an actor like Carrey is hired to stamp this sort of part with their own brand.
From the opening scene, which shows a delightfully rustic game-inspired sequence on the mushroom planet, where Robotnik is exiled following the events of the previous movie, Carrey captures attention and propels along a rather run-of-the-mill sequel.
If you want stakes, the actor is ready to serve a plate piled high with drama – and an extra side of relish. This might sound like he’s gone too far over the top, but the force and humour of his performance is pitched just right, providing many a 90s kid with a pang of nostalgia for when we were treated to more frequent turns from the actor.
That’s not to say he’s the only actor bringing pizzazz, however, with James Marsden obligingly back once more as Sonic’s guardian Tom and Tika Sumpter as his wife Maddie, both of whom are, for the most part, lumbered with the boring adult bits.
However, in a random, very non-video game move, a wedding subplot is shoe-horned in for Maddie’s sister Rachel (Natasha Rothwell), which makes zero sense in the grand scheme of things but is where all the humour and diversion for adults can be found. Rothwell shines in her fury and gives Marsden more to do than simply tell off Sonic.