With the fandom that has popped up around the Sonic the Hedgehog films, both among younger audiences and adult fans of the games, it was only a matter of time before the IP became a franchise. Despite its A-list cast and high production values that should spell success as a spin-off, Knuckles loses track of the magic that made the films so beloved by fans, delivering a soulless, nearly insufferable comedy devoid of laughs or charm.
Set after the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the miniseries Knuckles follows the echidna warrior as he trains deputy Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) in his ways. It’s almost insulting how little Knuckles actually plays into this story, as his storyline is relegated mainly to a subplot about a shadow organization hunting him down for his power, with a focus more on Whipple’s journey of self-discovery that absolutely no one will care about.
What is most surprising about Knuckles is how much of the original cast they managed to coax into returning for this straight-to-streaming spin-off. Idris Elba reprises his role as the superpowered echidna, and every time he is forced to utter one of the show’s incredibly cringy lines, you can feel him getting further and further from the Oscar nomination that was stolen from him.
Also Read: Scoop Review: Safe Jeffrey Epstein Drama Pulls Too Many Punches
Knuckles is painfully unfunny
Pally, James Marsden’s comedic sidekick in the films, takes center stage in Knuckles. Whether it’s the fault of the script or Pally’s performance is unclear, but he simply does not have the juice to lead this series. Especially when the film takes its inexplicable shift into sports comedy territory, Pally does not have the requisite charisma to be worth rooting for as an underdog. There are some cameos from other faces (and voices) from the main cast, but they’re mainly there to give the show more credence.
Regarding new additions to the cast, it’s stunning how much talent is wasted. New faces to the franchise include Oscar nominee Stockard Channing, the legendary Christopher Lloyd, cult icon Cary Elwes, musician-turned-actor Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi), and the incredibly talented Edi Paterson. The worst part is that all of them are giving their full effort and don’t seem to realize that what they are appearing in is, in fact, terrible.
It’s not just the actors’ talent that is put to waste in Knuckles, either — the series also squanders the talent of its directors, including the films’ director Jeff Fowler and Lonely Island member Jorma Taccone. For what it’s worth, the below-the-line aspects are mostly very strong, especially by the standards of a streaming spin-off. However, there are also some bizarre choices, like an action sequence set to the tune of “Hava Nagila.” The sheer amount of bad decisions in creating this miniseries is almost admirable.
And while one might think that this would at least be bearable with a mercifully short six-episode run, clocking in at under three hours in total length, it’s a chore to get through. The show struggles to get from one set piece to the next with a slew of unfunny jokes and uncompelling character beats. The two-hour runtime of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was already pushing the limits of goodwill, so why would they think nearly three hours without the main character would be embraced by the audience?
Knuckles is one of the worst cash grabs in recent memory. The Sonic the Hedgehog movies have been very successful, but that doesn’t mean audiences are clamoring for a cinematic universe based on these SEGA characters. Instead, they appreciate how the films combine several elements that play off of each other well. When you remove many of those puzzle pieces (namely Jim Carrey’s inspired turn as Dr. Robotnik), you get Knuckles — the most relentlessly unpleasant three hours you will experience this year.
Knuckles hits Paramount+ on April 26. All six episodes reviewed.
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Rating: 2/10
Also Read: The Cast and Crew of Fallout Discuss the Highly-Anticipated Video Game Adaptation
