Review of Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) by Davrosdaleks1 — 15 Feb 2020

I found this to be a good time.

I felt that Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz, Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Rec) had a surprisingly sympathetic backstory/character arc There are a lot funny lines in this that will also work with adults.

Effects and action-wise the movie does a good job of depicting the hedgehog's superspeed and his attack abilities. Dr. Robotnik's robots are also well designed and I like their sleek look. I'm especially pleased that the studio took the time to change Sonic's appearance after the world first got their look at the attempt to make him more realistic. (Kind of creepy. Everyone's complaining about the human teeth, but it was his weird suction-esque lips that weirded me out.) He looks good in this. I think some of the lighting on him doesn't always match the scene but this is a nitpick considering that the computer animators had to redo the character within a short amount of time.

Bare in mind that this isn't the ideal Sonic story I'd have gone with. This takes place on Earth, so we see very of Sonic's distinctively imaginative video game world and most of his supporting characters. (Yeah, a lot of people don't like a lot of Sonic's growing number of ancillary characters, but I think most of us would've liked to see him alongside Tails or Knuckles.) One wonders why this had to be live action instead of entirely computer animated. This taking place on Earth is hurt more by the fact that this goes with a basic odd-couple-on-the-road-together-scenario. Moments where Sonic and his human friend (X-Men and Westworld's James Marsden) get into heated disagreements can feel forced. Also, Marsden's character has an at times frustratingly one-dimensional disapproving sister-in-law.

Schwartz was a really good choice for Sonic. He has an energetic delivery. Though Jim Carrey doesn't have the round physique of the original Dr. Robotnik, he does an excellent job as a completely egotistical madman. The actor has some of the best lines in the movie, maintaining his gift for improv while never feeling like he is out of character. Credit should also be given to Lee Majdoub who does a pretty good job acting off of Carrey as Robotnik's put-upon assistant.

Compared to the other recent video game-based family film Detective Pikachu, this isn't quite as good. The movie just isnt' as ambitious or innovative. Still, this is a nice film the kids should like.