In order to get into the mind of the Blue Blur, I knew I had to make an effort to act like he does. That means before I stepped into the theater, I was to indulge in Sonic’s favorite dish of choice: a chili dog. It was my first time eating the dish, and I was not disappointed.  However, perhaps the chili dog’s flavor had been improved with a certain spice: excitement. 

With the chili dog consumed, I stepped into the theater and ordered my tickets for “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” The theater was not packed to the brim. The release weekend had come and gone, and now its various airing times were home to a scattered group of people, each going to view it at the time which was most ideal for them. This was fine by me as less people made it safer to be in the theater. 

I found that “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” was a wonderful experience to view. The movie is full of references and inspirations that Sonic fans would be able to pick up on. One addition, for example, is the iconic Buzz Bomber enemy in Eggman’s robotic armada. In the previous movie Dr. Robotnik, otherwise known as Eggman, had mostly floating egg-shaped robots. The Buzz Bombers, however, provide a new familiarity Sonic fans may enjoy.   

Tails, Sonic’s new friend, has sometimes been written into a corner, where he seems to have just the right gadget for the situation at one time and is totally helpless other times. In this movie, Tails has no such inconsistency. He has the right amount of gear to make him capable, but not so much that it’s unrealistic for him to not be able to solve problems.   

Knuckles is portrayed with power befitting of his name while not being totally without a brain. Despite being antagonistic for most of the film, Knuckles is still a sympathetic character and definitely an endearing one. His habits he gets from being unfamiliar with Earth customs are very funny to watch. 

Of course, Sonic, the Blue Blur himself, has character development from the first movie as well. At the beginning of the movie, Sonic is unwilling to open himself up and consider the people that care for him his family. By the end, he’s realized that they really are a found family and accepts it. Sonic also expressed a desire to grow up and help people with his powers. But because he wasn’t experienced, a lot of people could have been hurt. By the end of the movie he’s learned his lesson, and realizes that it’s okay to be a kid for a while and enjoy your time as one to the fullest. 

The humans, like the first movie, are not as interesting as the Sonic versus Eggman story. But in this movie, they still hold an interesting subplot for a while and don’t overstay their welcome. Sonic’s relationship with his earth family is furthered and has a great moment near the end which I enjoyed. 

Overall, the improvements the second Sonic movie brought to the Sonic movie universe are significant, and the story is much more interesting with more Sonic characters at play. It can stand on its own, but also has lots to love for hardcore Sonic fans to enjoy. I recommend watching both Sonic movies, as both are quite fun to experience.   

With the movie completed, I recall thinking to myself as I walked out of the theater:  “I should make another chili dog…” So I did!  It tasted even better than the first one.