One of the best things about the first Sonic the Hedgehog film is it has its own personality. Sure, it features the blue blur you know and love, but putting him on Earth in the real world puts a new spin (pun intended) on the franchise. Unlike Sonic '06, anthropomorphic animals and humans together somehow make sense.
Yet where the first put the hedgehog into the real world, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 puts the video game back into the film, its plot now hinging on entire setpieces that honour the game series. There's a water-logged labyrinth! Snowboarding! The Tornado biplane! This is a film as much for the adult fans to pick apart as it is for kids to laugh at the silliness.
Story-wise this sequel follows directly from the first film, with Sonic (Ben Schwartz) settling into life in the US town of Green Hills with surrogate dad Tom (James Marsden) and his wife Maddie (Tika Sumpter). Sonic is something of an unruly teen, sneaking out to fight crime at night like a spiky Batman in a bid to use his speedy powers for good.