Sonic the Hedgehog
Year: 2020
Director: Jeff Fowler
Starring: Jim Carey, James Marsden & Ben Schwartz
Runtime: 110 mins
BBFC: PG
Published: 15/03/20 (Legacy Review)
Director: Jeff Fowler
Starring: Jim Carey, James Marsden & Ben Schwartz
Runtime: 110 mins
BBFC: PG
Published: 15/03/20 (Legacy Review)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was the first video game I ever played, so it's a shame to see what the blue blur has become since the mid 1990's. Ever since Sonic made the jump to 3D the series has been on a downward spiral that really began to hit the fan with 2006’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ where the internet made a complete laughing stock about almost anything related to the game, and it only got worse with entries like 2014’s Sonic Boom which almost killed the entire brand. Which is why when I saw the horrendous first trailer for the Sonic the Hedgehog film; I, much like the millions of others who watched the trailer, decided that the film was going to be absolutely awful and couldn’t wait to see how much of a train wreck it ended up being.
Well unfortunately there is no train wreck...but also unfortunately it’s not particularly great either. It’s a completely by the numbers family adventure film with almost no surprises.
Sonic, an alien according to this film, is sent to Earth as a child to protect him from others trying to attain his powers (which are never really explained, I guess it’s electricity?). He spends 10 years growing up in secret in the town of Green Hills where he becomes attached to a local police officer (James Marsden), although they are unaware of Sonic’s presence.
When Sonic accidentally causes a power surge the government send in mad scientist Dr. Robotnik to find out what caused it. Sonic makes himself known to the police officer and asks for his help in retrieving some rings he lost so he can leave Earth and live in peace.
Yeah the story is pretty bland. But for what it is, it’s serviceable. James Marsden’s character and Sonic have a good buddy cop dynamic as they embark on a road trip and there are some genuinely funny moments.
The standout part of the whole film however is Jim Carey as Dr. Robotnik, the mad scientist who is hell bent on capturing Sonic. He plays the character just as outrageously silly as he needs to be and whilst for some that may be a turn off, with many parts that seem just a bit too silly from the actor, in terms of the concept and the character however, it makes sense.
Other than that Sonic the Hedgehog is a far cry from the typically awful video game adaptations Hollywood puts out, but it’s evident that alongside the likes of Detective Pikachu there’s still a fair way to go for adaptations to truly grasp what it means to make a great film.
Well unfortunately there is no train wreck...but also unfortunately it’s not particularly great either. It’s a completely by the numbers family adventure film with almost no surprises.
Sonic, an alien according to this film, is sent to Earth as a child to protect him from others trying to attain his powers (which are never really explained, I guess it’s electricity?). He spends 10 years growing up in secret in the town of Green Hills where he becomes attached to a local police officer (James Marsden), although they are unaware of Sonic’s presence.
When Sonic accidentally causes a power surge the government send in mad scientist Dr. Robotnik to find out what caused it. Sonic makes himself known to the police officer and asks for his help in retrieving some rings he lost so he can leave Earth and live in peace.
Yeah the story is pretty bland. But for what it is, it’s serviceable. James Marsden’s character and Sonic have a good buddy cop dynamic as they embark on a road trip and there are some genuinely funny moments.
The standout part of the whole film however is Jim Carey as Dr. Robotnik, the mad scientist who is hell bent on capturing Sonic. He plays the character just as outrageously silly as he needs to be and whilst for some that may be a turn off, with many parts that seem just a bit too silly from the actor, in terms of the concept and the character however, it makes sense.
Other than that Sonic the Hedgehog is a far cry from the typically awful video game adaptations Hollywood puts out, but it’s evident that alongside the likes of Detective Pikachu there’s still a fair way to go for adaptations to truly grasp what it means to make a great film.