'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' review: Zippy, fun sequel that runs rings around the original

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is pure and unapologetic fun, a thrill ride for kids that manages to fly by for adults, too. – Photos: UIP MAlaysia

At first glance, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 looks like a cash grab from the same people who made 2020’s shockingly successful Sonic the Hedgehog.

I use “shockingly” because the first movie, which had its modest charms amid the loose ends and bald spots, seemed destined for the scrap heap of video game adaptations — a genre that has repeatedly tanked over the years because studios have no idea how to translate interactive digital characters to real-life settings.