2019 was an odd year for live-action designs of characters. First, there was Detective Pikachu, which garnered a warm reception. Then, the Sonic The Hedgehog trailer dropped, and everyone lost their minds. But then, the Cats trailer dropped, and the world was on the brink of chaos.
As Sonic was pushed back to this year to undergo corrections, a design change was not the only thing going for the movie. Seeing as the film is doing well, a sequel is likely inevitable. That’s good news, as Sonic was a decent enough video game movie, especially compared to its brethren. Here are a few of the things that the movie did right, and a few that could have used a bit of a touch-up. As this is a recent release, there will be spoilers.
Nailed: The Redesign Is A Lifesaver
The elephant in the room, or rather, the blue whale in the room, was the fact that the movie’s original design for Sonic was hauntingly awful. With a mismatched fur color, creepy eyes, human teeth and lips, a lack of gloves, and a face disproportionate to the head size, the first trailer for Sonic The Hedgehog was a viral sensation, and rightfully so. While a little creative license is fine and bowing to fandoms isn’t always a good idea, the design for Sonic was so bafflingly bad that it jeopardized the movie. The poor animators worked tirelessly to correct the mistake as the film’s release date was pushed back. Considering their studio was shut down just last year, ideally, they find work elsewhere for their Herculean effort to save the film. It paid off. That being said, a special release of the film with the original hideous design would be a fascinating product to observe.
Disappointed: The Movie Is Nothing Game Changing
While the design of the movie was drastically changed, the story remained the same. And the story of Sonic The Hedgehog is nothing particularly new or interesting. It’s about as basic as buddy comedies get, it’s as safe and basic as adaptations can be, and it’s nothing new or engaging for action. There’s not a unique visual style to the movie, nor is there a new or interesting take on any particular moral. Sonic is lonely, he makes a friend. That’s an arc, sure, but it’s not an engaging or fresh one.
Nailed: Great Chemistry
Ben Schwartz and James Marsden clearly gave their all for this film, and it shows. Their performances are genuine and heartfelt, and the chemistry the two share elevates the stale screenplay slightly higher, making the difference between a bad movie and a good movie. Marsden and Tika Sumpter also play husband and wife, and their healthy and humor-filled marriage is sweet to watch. It’s a little awkward to see Sonic spying on them, but it’s still sweet nonetheless.
All three of them have a great dynamic to work off each other with, and likewise, to work against Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik.
Disappointed: Awkward Family Issues
Natasha Rothwell isn’t doing so well regarding her roles in 2020 films. She plays Rachel, the sister-in-law of James Marsden’s character, Tom. For reasons unexplained, Rachel simply hates Tom. And while jokes don’t always need an explanation to be funny, the film forces the hatred for Tom front and center in every scene Rachel is in. In fact, it’s her character’s sole defining trait.
Nailed: Lots Of Comedy
Sonic The Hedgehog has a cluster of jokes, which it constantly throws at its audience, especially through Sonic, who talks almost non-stop in each scene he appears in. Some of Schwartz’ jokes almost feel improvisational at times, and his delivery is exceedingly hyper and intense. Even if a joke doesn’t land, the delivery is so gleeful and loud that it might get an exhale of air out of the audience’s nostrils, much like ALF. The comedy also varies in style, with some physical comedy, some witty visual gags, and self-aware riffing.
Disappointed: Forced Jokes
That all being said, Sonic is also guilty of one of the most forced jokes in a blockbuster in recent memory. At a bar, while Sonic and Tom are at a table, a few tough guys come up to Sonic and say “We don’t like your kind” and when Sonic asks what they mean, they respond “Hipsters.” The joke is pretty out of date, it makes no sense, it doesn’t land with anyone, and it could have had any number of better options for a punchline. Sonic also flosses in the movie at one point, which was fine. But the film decides to date itself further and have him floss again in the film. And of course, many jokes that Sonic tells might go on a little too long, or the fact that they told a joke has to be pointed out; in other words, it’s similar to the Family Guy effect.
Nailed: Sonic Pulls A Hammy
Most reviewers would probably make a comparison to Quicksilver in Days of Future Past, but this is a friendly reminder that Hammy in Over the Hedge was also a speedster who moved so quickly that time stood still from his point of view. Indeed, at the same bar scene, after starting a ruckus, Sonic has to use his powers to end the situation in just the blink of an eye Time freezes, Sonic sets up several pranks and shuffles things around, and when time reverts back to normal, everything happens at once. One might even argue that Sonic managed to pull an…Over the Hedgehog?
Disappointed: The Third Act Is A Little Messy
While the action is pretty fun and creative for the first two acts of the movie, such as the bar fight, or the first encounter with Dr. Robotnik, the movie peaks with these pieces and winds down. The third act’s setup isn’t bad; Dr. Robotnik chases Sonic through the ring portals that Sonic chucks let and right, and the two race through different parts of the world. At one point, when Robotnik hits Sonic, he causes him to drop all of his rings; a cheeky reference to the video games.
But when Robotnik seemingly kills Sonic, Sonic just sort of bursts back to life through the power of…friendship? And rather than find a creative solution to defeat Robotnik, the film just has Sonic blast him with a sudden surge of energy through a portal and trap him on another world.
Nailed: Jim Carrey Is Delightful
Even in abysmal movies, there is never a dull moment when dealing with Jim Carrey. The real-life cartoon character is so fantastic in any movie that he’s in, that it’s safe to say he’s never turned in a bad performance. While capable of giving subtle and serious roles, his over the top and nonsensical antics are what brought him onto the stage. And in Sonic, his performance as Dr. Robotnik is no exception; Jim Carrey dances, screams, and groans his way through each scene, making for a gut-busting number of scenes whenever he appeared.
Disappointed: The Movie Needed To Be As Carefree As Robotnik
Jim Carrey is so good in the movie that he actually upstages the rest of the cast and yes, the movie. If the entire movie had the weird and manic energy that Carrey brought to the game, then Sonic The Hedgehog would probably be a strong contender for the best video game movie. The film feels more like the setup to a more silly and stuffed sequel, but it gets tiring when movies always have to have a setup film to get to the “real” fun. Audiences are never “not ready” for a movie, so long as the film is good, they’ll watch it.
