Expectation vs. reality is a beautiful thing when it comes to watching a film. If you had told me a few months ago that I would be writing a positive review for Sonic the Hedgehog, I would probably have asked to have some of what you were having. After one, if not the worst character design of the decade, I expected the film to follow suit as another lackluster effort in the video game genre. However, after the release of the trailer, the backlash from film Twitter and video game fans was so significant that director Jeff Fowler decided to push back the film’s release date several months and go back to the drawing board, and completely redesign Sonic to resemble the game-accurate version of the character. Thanks to the redesign and Fowler’s choice to focus primarily on Sonic, cinephiles have been given one of the best video game adaptations of all time.
Now, let’s not look at the previous statement as some monumental achievement. Before the release of Sonic, there was only one video game adaptation with a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, we’ve come a long way from 1993’s Super Mario Bros. A film, that while a guilty pleasure today butchered the video game franchise of our childhood.
Sonic the Hedgehog is quite the delight, and while the film sprinkles a substantial amount of nostalgia and callbacks to the video game franchise (I’m looking at you, Green Hills), it does not use nostalgia as a crutch to tell its story. The film’s focus on Sonic’s lack of friendship and loneliness as he tries to maneuver his way throughout the town in hiding works very well. Scenes that show Sonic playing every position on a baseball diamond or watching tv with a family from outside a window capture his need for friendship and companionship.
The effectiveness of Sonic can be credited to Ben Schwartz, who does a great job in voicing our favorite hedgehog. His performance captures the energy, comedy, and witty lines that echo his video game predecessor.
The irony is that while Sonic is the only animated character in the film, he certainly does not give the most spirited performance. Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik/Eggman takes the term “Chewing The Scenery” to another level. Carrey channels his infamous 90’s persona to give us an over the top, yet incredibly satisfying performance that will have cinephiles longing for more Carrey on the big screen.
Usually, with these video game adaptions, most of the humans serve no purpose, other than exposition. However, James Marsden is quite excellent in the film. His character, Tom, suffers from the uncertainty that blends with Sonic’s loneliness and ultimately leads this film to show its true colors. Sonic is a buddy cop film, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.
Sonic the Hedgehog did not reinvent the wheel in terms of its narrative, and while the film does have its expected flaws and cringe-worthy side characters, the movie is full of heart. There is no denying that longtime fans of the Sonic franchise will be racing out of the theater to let everyone know how enjoyable it is.
