RATING: A

An nWave Studios/Octopolis/Sony Pictures International production. Directed by Benjamin Mousquet. Produced by Mattheiu Gondinet and Matthieu Zeller. Written by Dave Collard and Chris Grine; based on Grine’s book series. 

Starring the voices of Jordan Tartakow, Joe Ochman, Laila Berzins, Odessa Lurlean, Dino Andrade, Todd Haberkom, Wally Wingert, and Xanthe Huynh.

After dealing with the Hamster of Darkness, Chickenhare is back as he is on a new adventure with a massive twist he never expected.

Along with skunk Meg and turtle Abe, Chickenhare has become an independent adventurer and on his way to get the Holy Spork, Meg’s old partner Crolloq has returned in hopes to lure her back. However, Meg, undeterred, stays with Chickenhare. Legend tells the tale of a groundhog with a backwards head that has the power to change one past thing in history. While the adventurer is enthralled with the story, he becomes shocked upon meeting Gina, his long lost sister. 

Gina tells Chickenhare that their race is on the verge of extinction. The Tree of Life, located where the harechickens have moved to avoid the Rat King, is dying and only the Groundhog with the Backwards-Facing Head can be the only one who can save them. As Meg and Abe join the siblings, a series of misadventures causes the group to split up, leading to a shocking twist and also Meg forces to face her former friend once and for all. What will happen when the Groundhog is found?

In 2022, those who were unfamiliar with Chris Grine’s character were introduced to Chickenhare in Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness. In the film, the titular character, a part-chicken, part-rabbit had aspirations of becoming an adventurer like his adopted father, the current king. Overcoming all odds and eventually adversity, he decides to complete the mission his father couldn’t and it was a fun adventure that also introduced to his pessimistic server Abe and martial arts skunk sidekick Meg. The trio returns for this sequel that dredges up things of both Chickenhare’s and Meg’s past.

We learn about Chickenhare’s past when he meets Gina, his long-lost sister. Chickenhare suddenly learns he was not the only one of his kind and in the midst of things, discovers something even more shocking. Meanwhile, we are also introduced to Crolloq, Meg’s former friend whose bossiness caused them to end their friendship, which in turn led to Meg meeting Chickenhare in the original film. Abe is still Abe, all sorts of pessimistic but useful when needed. 

It is when the group splits that revelations begin to occur and with this being a family friendly adventure, will make you want to root for everyone involved and hope those who start as villains soon turn sides and realize the mistakes they make. It is a rarity when a sequel is as good as its original and this is in fact, living proof of that very theory.

Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog is a fun follow-up to the 2022 Hamster of Darkness. The stories and backstories of Chickenhare and Meg are quite emotional at times, and the adventure itself is just as fun as the original film! 

The film will be hitting UK theaters on July 24