SEGAs iconic video game mascot hits the big screen after facing delays and redesigns last year. Thankfully, itโs not the train wreck many were expecting.
Itโs finally here.
This time last year Paramount dropped its first trailers for what would soon become the infamous, nightmare inducing first Sonic design, which combined realistic animal proportions with cartoonish colours. It was terrifying, to say the very least.
It seems that top Paramount executives agreed with the barrage of criticism that ensued. The film was subsequently delayed and Sonic was given a makeover, much to the delight of basically everyone. After a year of speculation, anticipation, memes, and reworkings, Sonic has finally hit the big screen in time for Valentineโs Day โ but is it any good?
Youโll be pleased to know that the Sonic The Hedgehog movie is not as big of a disaster as everybody assumed it would be. It wonโt be winning any Oscars next year, nor will it be heralded as a classic piece of cinema, but itโs a fun, slightly ludicrous romp that most will find to be an enjoyable ride. Itโs already broken records for the biggest opening of a video game movie too, so we should probably start preparing ourselves for a sequel.
Now, before we get too deep into this film, letโs just get a couple things out of the way. This is by no means a flawless project. Its script is a little weak, quite a few of the jokes fall flat, and Sonic flosses. Twice. The entire prospect of a live action film based on a video game character who hasnโt really been that great since the 90s is ridiculous in itself, so itโs best to go into this movie with few expectations. This is no Citizen Kane.
But, to Paramount and SEGAs credit, Sonic The Hedgehog doesnโt pretend to be anything other than a family friendly thrill ride. Jim Carrey plays a fantastic, often hilarious Robotnik who has the most memorable lines of any character here. Thereโs a few genuinely laugh-out-loud scenes and Sonic is a chirpy presence that gives the film a satisfying energy. Itโs feel good, silly, and all good fun.
The plot is a standard moustache-twirling villain affair with a buddy duo thrown in for good measure. Sonic must venture to San Francisco in order to pick up his discarded rings that allow him to teleport to different dimensions because, obviously. He lives alone and remains hidden from human beings until his emotions get the better of him and he causes a nationwide power outage. Various scenes unfold as Robotnik tries to track him down andโฆwell, Iโm sure you can guess the rest from there.
In terms of visuals, Sonicโs CGI design has gone from being the most disastrous aspect of the film to one of its biggest strengths, and youโll often find yourself emotionally compelled by some of his scenes. This movie makes you feel things for a pretend blue cartoon hedgehog โ an achievement if ever there was one. Plenty of fan service is hidden throughout and niche references are littered all over the place for eagle eyed viewers who actually remember Sonicโs first games from the early nineties.
Most of the film takes place in a rural American town, aptly named Green Hill, though we do get to see glimpses of other planets and creative environments that Iโd love to see more of should a follow up ever materialise. Sonicโs friendship with Tom, a local police officer who he partners up with early on, winds up being a thoughtful pairing, one that helps to keep the film grounded amongst all of the chaos. Check out this clip below which demonstrates their buddy dynamic at its peak.
An extraordinary turnaround
The biggest achievement with this film has been the turnaround in public perception. While critics have given mixed reviews, fans and regular movie goers have been reacting positively and its big opening box office figures suggest that thereโs an appetite for more. Itโs a far cry from the initial impressions we all got this time a year ago, and I doubt even Paramount expected things to go as smoothly as they have over opening weekend.
Thereโs a case to be made for how far fans should tinker with projects, and to what extent directors should take on the feedback of audiences, but I think in this case itโs been an undeniably positive improvement over the initial vision. Fans have appreciated being listened to, and literally nobody is arguing that the original design was better than what we got in the final movie.
The bottom line is that if youโre a fan of Sonic, video games, or just family films in general, this one is worth your time. Jim Carrey brings a performance reminiscent of his Ace Ventura days, and though it can be a bit ham-fisted and cheesy in places, it still doesnโt detract from the overall experience. Youโll come away having smiled at least a few times, and thatโs something, at the very least.
3
out of5
Speeding past a potential train wreck
Sonic's 2020 movie outing is a fun, inoffensive time - though it won't be winning any Oscars next year.
Iโm Charlie (He/Him), a Remote Writer at Thred. I was previously the Editor at Thred before moving to Bristol in 2024. As a music and gaming enthusiast, Iโm a nerd for pop culture. You can find me curating playlists, designing article headline images, and sipping cider on a Thursday. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
Rapper and entertainer Snoop Dogg was hit with criticism for performing alongside Nelly, Soulja Boy and others at the first ever โCrypto Ballโ in Washington, D.C.
Snoop Dogg has been hit with a wave of criticism after appearing at the first ever โCrypto Ballโ in Washington D.C last week. The event was a celebration of Trumpโs inauguration.
The rapper was filmed performing his 1990s hit โNuthinโ but a G Thangโ...
Are we so obsessed with watching other people document their creativity for profit that weโre unable to separate our own creativity from capitalism?
Crochet has gone through several evolutions since its (debated) origins in Europe.
It is widely agreed that Chinese craftsmen introduced a needlework style known as tambouring to the French in the late 1700s.
The first mention of crochet was in Dutch magazine Penรฉlopรฉ in the 1800s,...
With difficulty booking headliners and rising costs, music festivals face their toughest year yet.
Music events are often signposts of our year. Memories with friends, seeing acts youโve only dreamed of witnessing play live. These near-mythic gatherings of collective euphoria are a mainstay of modern culture. But theyโre facing a crossroads.
What used to promise a steady stream of sold-out tickets has become a risky operation littered with bureaucratic obstacles and...
As they did with the Man vs Bear debate, straight men have once again tried to satirise one of womenโs online trends, and itโs only made them look worse.
The #WomenInMaleFields trend that dominated social media not long ago satirises behaviours associated with toxic men and the dating habits they perpetuate.
The general idea is: women overlay a photo/video of themselves with text quoting a heard-before excuse, as if they were...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok