Sonic the Hedgehog is a solid movie that will entertain both kids and adults. It's also a character that transcends generations and speaks to fans in movie form as well as video game form. Huh, Mario can't say that, can it?
SEGA!
YAY! A video game movie that actually lived up to the hype. Go figure. Anyway, YAY!
Official Synopsis
Powered with incredible speed, Sonic the Hedgehog (voiced by Ben Schwartz), aka The Blue Blur, embraces his new home on Earth. That is, until he accidentally knocks out the power grid and sparks the attention of super-uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Now it’s super-villain vs. super-sonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using his unique power for world domination. Sonic teams up with The Donut Lord, aka Sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden), to save the planet in this action-packed hit that’s fun for the whole family.
This is one of those ‘buddy’ films, which I honestly didn’t expect to hold up for two hours. If you told me that a blue hedgehog(ver 2.0)/Jean Ralphio and Cyclops (ver 1.0)/Liz Lemon’s boyfriend could team up and make an entertaining pair of criminals on the run, I would probably have to say you’re dreaming. This isn’t Midnight Run! Throwing in Jim Carrey for good measure just seems like an insurance policy of a personality to help would have been a bad kid’s film. But guess what? It all worked. All of it. I mean, it’s not a perfect film, but 70-80% of this comedy worked and 100% of the actors solid it.
Let’s get right into it.
Sonic the Hedgehog is cast-off to earth at a young age to avoid an evil league trying to destroy him. He carries with him a bag of rings, which will act as portals to other lands, should he need them, and a mysterious power that most enemies are afraid of acknowledging. Constantly on the run (no pun intended) from evil, which wants his super sonic power, he lives a life of solitude…until he accidentally knocks out a power grid after an intense game of solo baseball (it’s rather sad). The military takes notice, an evil scientist named Dr. Robotnik is hired to track down the surge, and Sonic is on the run (pun intended this time). While contemplating his inevitable escape from earth to a mushroom world that looks horrible, he runs into an up and coming sheriff named Tom Wachowski and extends a branch of trust to ‘Lord Donut’ (what he calls Wachowski because he watches him eat donuts) in hopes of saving his blue butt. Wachowski, a sheriff trying to make a name for himself, and eventually get a job in a big city, is reluctant to help until he meets Robotnik and sees that he has no choice but to get Sonic to safety — regardless, if it costs him his job or not.
The first act concludes.
The first act of this film, almost always forgettable in video game to movie adaptions, is treated surprisingly well. Sonic’s character is properly defined through flashbacks and voice-over dialogue, and the talented buy-in from Ben Schwartz, who nails this character. Sonic’s existence on earth is justified, as are the coins he carries with him (they actually might be better explained in this film than they are in Sega’s video game). All the characters introduced in act one, Carrey’s Robotnik, and even Marsden’s Wachowski, make sense within the context the story is written. This means that Schwart’s Sonic running into Marsden’s Wachowski is properly done and it should happen the way it does. They belong in the world created by writer Pat Casey and Josh Miller, and they don’t deviate from their proper course as the next two acts go on. All characters do what they’re supposed to do at the time they’re supposed to do it in the first act. Again, it’s well written. While they’re constructed the same way most characters in a kid’s film are, the personalities of the actors make the characters more than they should be. Good writing, good character development, and good acting is how this movie is defined in the first act.
That’s a way to start a film.
The second act doesn’t come through as strongly as the first. The second act is essentially different situations and moments in-between Robotnik catching up to Sonic and the sheriff. You get a biker bar scene, that is quite good, but a little out of place. You get the highway scene from the trailer, which is full of good action and a fair amount of well-written comedy, that almost sees Robotnik catching up with Sonic and Wachowski. The act concludes with a hurt Sonic and Wachowski bringing his sister-in-law in the mix for comedy relief, and where Sonic dawns his classic shoes.
The second act is not a particularly messy one, as it does progress the story to the third act, but it is long in the tooth in some moments and not enough in others. For example, while I enjoyed the biker bar scene, it was a little out of place for Sonic, and somewhat random. Director Jeff Fowler uses this scene like Bryan Singer used Quick Silver in the slow-motion Pentagon scene in X-Men: Days of Future Past (maybe that was the joke, but still it seemed unnecessary). Anyway, the scene takes a bit longer to take its full course and the payoff to the story actually means less overall story. It’s simply a moment, nothing else. It’s a gimmick, much like the X-Men scene, and doesn’t really add to the story progression. Not that I’m looking for Citizen Kane out of this movie, but I wanted more Robotnik v. Sonic and fewer scenes that waste time. Kids probably will love this scene, but if you took it out, it wouldn’t really make much of a difference.
As the movie begins its third act, where Sonic truly comes to life and comes to terms with his power, it begins to click on an emotional level that it was hinting at in the first act. The finale, which we never get into with these movie reviews, has a big payoff. You leave wanting another Sonic film, especially with its surprise guest, and you’re hopeful that Carrey will sign on to continue his Robotnik character (he is perfect). You’re also hopeful that we get to see the sheriff again because, let’s be honest, James Marsden is a darn good actor to watch. Love the guy, especially in 30 Rock. I wish he was in more good films.
Anyway, Sonic the Hedgehog is a good film. It does almost everything right and leaves itself room to grow. While not all the parts work, the movie has a good stride to its jog. Give me more of Carrey, Schwartz, and Marsden! I would love to see Paramount green light a sequel quickly. Well, as quick as you can with this virus mess looming.
To the special features!
Special Features
• Commentary by director Jeff Fowler and the voice of Sonic, Ben Schwartz
• Around the World in 80 Seconds—See Sonic’s next adventure!
• Deleted Scenes—Director Jeff Fowler introduces deleted scenes
• Bloopers—Laugh along with Jim Carrey and the cast
• “Speed Me Up” Music Video
• For the Love of Sonic—Jim Carrey and the cast discuss what Sonic the Hedgehog means to them
• Building Robotnik with Jim Carrey—See Jim Carrey bring supervillain Dr. Robotnik to life
• The Blue Blur: Origins of Sonic—Explore the origins of the legendary Blue Blur
• Sonic On Set—Visit the set with the voice of Sonic, Ben Schwartz
The special features are actually darn good. I’m impressed that Paramount went all out to create some solid features for Sonic. Anyway, these features compliment the heck out of the main feature.
Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog is a solid movie that will entertain both kids and adults. It’s also a character that transcends generations and speaks to fans in movie form as well as video game form. Huh, Mario can’t say that, can it?
SEGA!
