Sonic – Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Directed by: Jeff Fowler | 99 minutes | action, adventure | Original voice cast: Ben Schwartz | Actors: James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, Neal McDonough, Tom Butler, Frank C. Turner, Melody Nosipho Niemann, Shannon Chan-Kent, Brad Kelly, Elfina Luk

“Thank you for the support. And the criticism. The message is loud and clear… you aren’t happy with the design & you want changes. It’s going to happen. Everyone at Paramount & Sega are fully committed to making this character the BEST he can be…” This is what Jeff Fowler, director of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ tweeted after the release of the first trailer in May 2019. Fan reactions have been raving about it; the appearance of the blue hedgehog from the much-loved video game was repulsive. A Guardian journalist wrote that Sonic was most like a cheap plush Sonic knockoff that your kid wins at a funfair and then is terrified of it. The makers kept their word, the release was delayed by about half a year and Sonic got a thorough makeover.

The figure ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ has been around since 1991, when the first game was released by Sega. Numerous other games, animated series and comics followed. The film has a turbulent history, with changes of rights and production companies (initially Sony would release the film, this eventually became Paramount). The end result may not be to everyone’s taste, for a family film based on a video game, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ is quite successful.

When the film starts we see Sonic in the environment where he grew up; but because he is no longer sure of his life, he has to flee to another planet. Using the rings he receives from his protector Longclaw, he ends up on Earth, in the lovely village of Green Hills. There he leads an inconspicuous existence, until he no longer manages to keep his presence a secret. The only friend he makes is local police officer Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) and the two go from one adventure to the next to get out of the hands of the hostile Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) to stay.

One of the advantages of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ is that the story is also easy to follow for people who have not played one of the games for a second. On the other hand, there are enough references in it to keep the loyal fan base happy. The story is basically a fish-in-the-dry story; a bit like ‘Starman’ (1984) or the much more famous ‘ET – The Extra Terrestrial’ (1982), in which an alien befriends an Earthling and they must try to outsmart the authorities.

Another advantage is the casting: James Marsden fits the bill perfectly as the ambitious police officer with a heart of gold and, in addition to some very funny lyrics, he also has a surprising side: he may come across as a wimp, but he is definitely a formidable opponent for the maniacal Dr. Robotnik. And yes, Jim Carrey is also a lot of fun in his role and ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ feels like a return to his roots as a comedian.

The friendship between Sonic and Tom is the beating heart of the film, which ends with a clear message: This isn’t the last time we’ll see Sonic in a movie. With this cast and makers, we have enough confidence in that.