Movie · 2022 · Action, Adventure, Family, Comedy · 2h 3m · PG · English
Curator score: 2.1/10 (546.7K ratings)
Welcome to the next level.
Overview
After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.1/10
IMDb: 6.5/10
Letterboxd: 3.10/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 69%
Metacritic: 47
TMDB: 7.4/10
Director
Jeff Fowler
Production
Original Film, Blur Studio, Marza Animation Planet, Paramount Pictures, SEGA, SEGA of America
Cast
Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, Jim Carrey, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Shemar Moore, Lee Majdoub, Melody Nosipho Niemann, Tom Butler, Brad Kalilimoku, Krista Alvarez, Donna Jay Fulks, Scott Patey, Leif Havdale, Johnson Phan, Colby Chartrand, Kevin Fortin
Where to watch
Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A brisk, kid-friendly sequel that leans harder into action-adventure spectacle, buddy-comedy banter, and fan-service than the first film. It’s uneven and often silly, but the energy is high, the set pieces are playful, and the character dynamics are charming enough to make it an easy watch for families and game fans.
Best for
families looking for a loud, colorful crowd-pleaser
viewers who enjoy live-action/CGI hybrid adventure comedies
fans of video game adaptations and playful lore
kids and younger teens
people who like fast-paced, joke-heavy blockbusters
Skip if
you want sharp writing or emotional depth
you dislike broad kid-movie humor
you’re not interested in franchise setup and sequel bait
you prefer grounded action or subtle performances
Overview
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a bigger, busier sequel that mostly understands the assignment: keep the pace moving, give the kids something bright and noisy, and let the characters bounce off each other with enough charm to smooth over the rough edges. The movie’s strongest asset is its willingness to be silly without apology, especially once the team-up structure kicks in and the adventure starts hopping from one set piece to the next.
Worth noting
It’s not especially elegant, and some of the comedy lands more as noise than punchline, but the film has a cheerful momentum that makes its excesses easy to forgive. The action is playful rather than intense, and the emotional beats are simple but effective for the target audience.
Bottom line
If you’re already on board with the first movie’s tone, this is a satisfying upgrade in scale and creature-comedy energy. If you’re not, the sequel is unlikely to convert you, but it does deliver exactly the kind of family blockbuster chaos it promises.
Top Letterboxd reviews
ConnorEatsPants (3.5★) · 6065 likes
i took a girl to this movie’s premiere and she leaned over 30 minutes in to ask “wait is he a hedgehog??”
porge! (5★) · 4021 likes
i cannot believe jim carey and dhar mann are lovers.
someone moaned when knuckles came on.
zero stars for no shadow.
EDIT: OH MY GOD SHADOW FIVE STARS
mary · 3679 likes
this is my joker
adambolt (4★) · 3053 likes
I will never trust Idris Elba again, "Knuckles isn't going to be sexy" my ass
David Sims (3★) · 2802 likes
don't worry, they clear out time for an extended barroom dance sequence
1994 · Comedy, Fantasy, Crime · 1h 41m · PG-13 · Curator 4.2/10 (1.3M ratings) · Where to watch: TNT, TBS, tru TV
Shares the same cartoonish live-action energy, broad comedy, and hyperactive visual style that works for audiences who like their family blockbusters loud and playful.
2011 · Adventure, Animation, Mystery · 1h 47m · PG · Curator 5.8/10 (652.1K ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
A globe-trotting adventure with brisk pacing, elaborate action, and a polished sense of animated spectacle.
Topics
family adventure, video game adaptation, buddy comedy, live-action animation hybrid, road trip, fantasy action, lighthearted, slapstick, franchise sequel, kids movie