Parents' Guide to Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Transforming a video game character into a hilarious preteen alien who wants to be a superhero is a stroke of brilliance. It's an incredibly effective way to deliver relatability and positive messages to young viewers. That said, the action comedy embodies Sonic's point of view almost too much: It feels like a fifth grader hopped up on sugar, running at full speed in a million different directions. Part of the story focuses on how Sonic's relationship with Tom and Maddie has developed since the first film. They're Sonic's guardians and treat him as their child, and through the story they come to recognize that they're a family. But since Tom and Maddie function as his parents, the writers have to get them out of the way so they don't stop Sonic from going on a wild adventure. They travel to Hawaii for the wedding of Maddie's sister, Rachel (Natasha Rothwell), in a subplot that's meant to tie up loose ends but really creates an unnecessary distraction from Sonic's story.

Meanwhile, Dr. Robotnik's mustache has grown along with his insanity while he's been exiled to the Mushroom Planet. As he works to achieve world domination, yet another subplot features his adoring henchman, Stone (Lee Majdoub), trying to reunite with his boss. While it's very funny, this adventure ultimately bites off a bit too much, trying to show kids what it means to be a hero, what it means to be a friend, and what it means to be a family. It all gets swallowed and digested, but it sure takes a long time to chew. Still, the meandering story will likely only be a concern to adults. Kids will probably think this sequel, like Sonic, is out of this world.