Launching in 2020, the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie series features entertaining adventures featuring everyone’s favorite Blue Bull and his growing friends. One of the highlights of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 There was Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba. His strict adherence to the fish-out-of-water and echidna warrior code, which stands in stark contrast to Sonic’s fun-loving personality, made for an enjoyable dynamic within the cast of characters. Puri, a new six-episode streaming show on Paramount Plus, tries to build on that dynamic. However, it falls short of the heights reached by the two theatrical films, thanks to the low stakes, the obvious disconnect from the big voice story, and the heavy emphasis on the human characters in the world.
Warning: While I try to be as spoiler-free as possible, this article does mention some aspects of the narrative and characters.
This spin-off series follows Knuckles as he trains Wade Whipple (Adam Paley), the nerdy police officer from the first two Sonic films, in the ways of the echidna warrior. While Wade is fine as the comic relief in the films, I often struggled to place a lot of emotional stakes at the character’s feet. This becomes especially true when her family joins the show. The weakest parts of the Sonic movies are the scenes with the human characters. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 He appeared to learn this lesson, as he sent many important men on a journey, but the reverse is true. Puri; On several occasions, I’ve wondered why we’re finally paying so much attention to Wade’s family drama instead of what Knuckles is up to off-screen.
The family saga that consumes much of the later parts of the show might be forced to explode, but this almost feels like a completely different show. The show does little to tell viewers why we should care about these characters other than the fact that they are related to Wade. The mother character (Stockard Channing) is the most likable of the bunch, especially when the other major players feel like cartoonish caricatures of sitcom archetypes — even more so in the movies. Thankfully, when the titular character is on screen, it’s another strong performance from Elba. I’m also happy that most of the CGI of the Knuckles character looks great, especially when in fights.
Sequences of action Puri are prominent. One scene, in particular, takes place in the kitchen and benefits from some awkward camera work and a synthetic single-take effect. The action scenes are well-paced throughout the six-episode season, but they highlight one of the most important shortcomings that the Sonic franchise must overcome if it hopes to expand into spin-off series such as: Sonic The enemy is not so deep. Being the main antagonist of Puri Become two rogue GUN agents and a boy who used to work for Dr. Robotnik, reveals himself in irreconcilable ways. Of course, we are promised Shadow Inn. Sonic the Hedgehog 3and we may get introductions to characters like Metal Sonic or Chaos in future media, but this series shows that the pool is pretty low.
Installing low-profile villains for the franchise’s first streaming series could be forgiven if they make their mark, but they feel like what Dr. Robotnik was trying to accomplish in the first film. Their whole motivation is to capture Knuckles to steal his power. Ally Taylor and Kid Cady give solid performances as the rogue gun agents, but the characters rarely serve as anything more than plot devices to advance their personal journeys and falter in fight scenes. We learn about their motivations later in the show, but at the time, I only cared about them because when they showed up, it usually meant an action scene was coming up.
When you’re not watching a fight sequence unfold, you’re usually enduring a jock shotgun blast with a relatively low hit rate. The seasoned comedic delivery of actors such as Adam Paley, Paul Shearer, and Cary Elwes is surprising for some of the jokes delivered. Puri, but that’s often not enough to keep up and running. Instead, in an era when Knuckles wasn’t on screen, I was more moved by the heartfelt moments, which, like the humor, have a relatively low success rate. Much of the family dynamic is built around a ridiculous bowling tournament that punctuates its tone and story. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story A little too closely, making it hard to connect with the characters or the larger narrative. Puri It feels uncompromising when it comes to its tone. While it’s not impossible to be an action-comedy series with emotional moments, it’s a difficult line to walk Puri can fulfill.
And all of that would be forgiven if the story felt necessary – or even consequential – to the world of the Sonic series. But instead, haven’t seen it yet Sonic the Hedgehog 3I can’t help but feel it. Puri There is that sitcom quality where everything ends where it started. Sure, it’s a journey with some emotional, minor character development, funny gags, little easter eggs, and fun action scenes, but if anyone asks if it’s worth watching Puri Before viewing Sonic the Hedgehog 3 When it hits theaters this December, I’ll be hard-pressed to find a narrative reason to say yes.
It probably is. Puri‘ Biggest Flaw: Despite its sometimes fun and heartfelt moments, it feels completely unnecessary. Video game adaptations have a longstanding reputation for being bad. Puri Not bad at all, but when compared to its contemporaries. Fallout, The last of us, Twisted metal, Super Mario Bros. Movieand even Sonic the Hedgehog 2it feels like a video game adaptation from a bygone era.