Director: Jeff Fowler
Starring: Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Ben Schwartz
When I first heard they were making a Sonic The Hedgehog movie, my reaction was the let out a long sign.
“Really? Do they need to make this film? Do they need to make a Sonic movie?”
Then the film’s first trailer came out and we all know what happened when that thing came out.
The version of Sonic in that very first trailer and nightmare-inducing and I’m pretty sure the memory of that anthropomorphic blue hedgehog kept children up at night.
Honestly, I saw that and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Sonic just looked terrible.
This started a huge online campaign to get the Sonic remade in the movie, and incredibly, Paramount Pictures agreed.
The film’s director, Jeff Fowler, also agreed, so they delayed the movie and redesigned Sonic.
They basically redid the movie because they had to painstakingly redo every shot Sonic was in.
It was a Hollywood first, and I’m actually pleased to report that the final product is actually pretty good.
It’s surprisingly good, because going into the movie, I really wasn’t expecting a lot.
Could Sonic The Hedgehog be the best video game movie ever?
Sonic The Hedgehog could be the best video game movie yet – Credit: Paramount Pictures
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I wasn’t expecting to come out of the movie, scratching my head and asking, “Was that the best video game movie I’ve ever seen?”
The answer to that question might just be, yes, it probably is.
To be honest, the competition in that area isn’t too tough.
Before Sonic The Hedgehog came out, I was thinking that Detective Pikachu might have been the best video game movie ever made, and that film wasn’t great.
Perhaps Tomb Raider starring Alicia Vikander was a bit better, but they’ve all be real duds as far as video game movie adaptations are concerned.
Honestly, I don’t know why this is. Why can’t Hollywood make a decent movie based on a video game?
Well, Sonic The Hedgehog might just buck that trend.
The film starts off explaining how Sonic ended up on Earth.
Basically, he was having a great time on his home planet as a kid (kid Sonic is super cute by the way).
However, he ends up having to leave because people are after his power.
The plot is a bit formulaic, but that doesn’t matter here
Ben Schwartz does an excellent job voicing Sonic – Credit: Paramount Pictures
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We all know that Sonic’s power is super speed, so with the help of his Owl protector, he uses these special rings to travel to Earth and hide.
Cut to the present day, Sonic’s living in hiding in Green Hills in Montana, yet things go a bit wrong when he accidentally causes a massive power outage.
This then brings Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik to Green Dales in search for whatever caused the outage.
And so begins the epic battle between Sonic and Dr. Robotnik.
It’s a rather simple premise, and at first glance, it does feel like one of those movies in which they retroactively bring a video game character into the real world.
It is one of those movies, but it’s actually quite enjoyable.
Sonic The Hedgehog’s plot is rather formulaic, but whilst I was sitting there watching it all predictably unfold in front of me, I was enjoying myself.
Part of it was down to Ben Schwartz’s genuinely perfect voice acting as Sonic, and the other part was down to Carrey’s performance.
Seeing him play Dr. Robotnik is like taking a trip back in time.
Jim Carrey’s back doing what he does best
Jim Carrey as Dr Robotnik in the Sonic The hedgehog movie – Credit: Paramount Pictures
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This role is perfect for him and allows him to make the most of his unique brand of comedy.
Carrey’s doing what Carrey does best in Sonic The Hedgehog, and I definitely laughed more than five times (which is the sign of a better than average comedy).
Maybe I’m getting softer in my ‘old age’, but I came out of the screening with a big smile of my face.
I was satisfied with what I had just seen and I wouldn’t mind watching another one.
I couldn’t say that about Tomb Raider and Detective Pikachu.
I’ll also say that the redesigned Sonic looked really good and I couldn’t help but marvel at the production team’s ability to completely redo Sonic in only a couple months.
Sonic The Hedgehog is the best video game movie ever made
You know what, Sonic The Hedgehog ain’t half bad – Credit: Paramount Pictures
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So, yes. It’s official. Sonic The Hedgehog is the best video game movie ever.
I can’t believe I’ve written that, but it’s there for everybody to see.
Sonic The Hedgehog will be in UK cinemas on February 14, 2020.
Will you be seeing Sonic The Hedgehog? Let us know in the comments below.
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