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Jack Bottomley
Media Correspondent
2:46 AM 28th March 2020
arts

Review: Sonic The Hedgehog

 
When it comes to adapting successful video games and their characters to the big screen, history has been far from kind. Starting with the legendarily bad Super Mario Bros. (1993) up to 2018’s actually ok Tomb Raider, films based on video games seem to have stretched the disappointingly limited gap between horrible and fine.

However, with Duncan Jones’ Warcraft: The Beginning, 2018’s Rampage and last year’s Detective Pikachu, there have been signs that a change could be on the horizon. Unexpectedly that change ‘rings’ supreme with Sonic the Hedgehog.

Based on Sega’s beloved blue speedster character of the same name, who hit insane popularity back when he debuted in 1991 and has had a feverish fanbase ever since, this film was one not many expected to hit a high score.

The much publicised initial trailer which hit last year was met with universal derision, with Sonic’s ugly (and frightening) CGI design being lambasted, and the trailer itself was badly assembled and rolled eyes rather than raised expectations. In an unprecedented move though, Paramount would delay the film from its initial intended release last December to entirely redesign Sonic, at a cost of $5 million! And I have to applaud the studio, its team and the visual effects designers because that move has made a world of difference.

This film opens with a young Sonic on his own world, until events force him to leap to safety and find a new world. On this world known as Earth, in the Montana town of Green Hills, Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) lives in isolation, learning from what he sees around him. Soon though, one false move gets the attention of the authorities, forcing Sonic to make a friend in local Sheriff Thomas Wachowski (James Marsden), as they flee the increasingly obsessive mad scientist/inventor Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey).

Sonic the Hedgehog certainly plays to its young audience with some of the gags and while some jokes don’t quite hit the ground running, most do, as Pat Casey and Josh Miller’s script keeps on running regardless...and the fun is infectious for all ages.

Made by people - like Pikachu and Warcraft - who clearly know and love the games, Sonic the Hedgehog treats fans to a plethora of references and in-jokes (some more subtle than others). Be it a wonderful piano riff on an iconic Masato Nakamura theme, a live-action version of an “end boss” battle, an animated credits scene which translates the events of the movie into 16-bit form or a gleeful end credits scene, this plays out like a gift for fans but also has its own story to tell.

Schwartz gives Sonic the appropriate frenzied energy vocally and, like an excited kid, Sonic races through the film with wide eyed joy but also a big innocent heart, as he sees the fun in the everyday and finds the value in connection. And yes his updated design is simply miles better.

Marsden has played a live-action counterpart before but here is at least given a bit more to work with and his relationship with wife Maddie (warmly played by Tika Sumpter) adds to the feel and indeed fun of the movie, rather than halting it.

Although, there is no doubt about it, it is Jim Carrey’s welcome return to his energetic '90s heyday best, as the film’s showstealing villain Dr. Robotnik, that is the film’s biggest and best bonus of all! It's so good to have him back on this form.

As Robotic, Carrey turns the madness up to 11 and is an absolute hilarious joy, whether it’s in a brilliant The Poppy Family dance routine or wielding an array of nefarious robots, Carrey hits it spot on in the part and we can only hope he stays onboard for the sequel!

Its safe to say many feared the worst with Sonic the Hedgehog but fear not, this film is a fast and fun blast of family entertainment and its great to have Carrey back at his bonkers best to boot!

PG
Director: Jeff Fowler
Starring: James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey
Release Date: Out Now