by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
Blue streak speeds by, Sonic The Hedgehog!
That’s right, the Blue Blur himself has finally made his way to the big screen for his first live-action adventure. While various video game cinematic adaptations have been attempted over the years, most have fallen short from fan expectations. After a backlash over the initial design of the title character, the creative team went back to the drawing board to redesign our hero to fall more in line with his original appearances. So with all of the aesthetic changes in place for the release, does Sonic The Hedgehog have what it takes to defy the odds and surprise audiences? I am so happy to that yes, yes he does.
Sonic The Hedgehog delivers a surprisingly impactful and emotional take on the character. The story itself was a bit unpredictable, so I am going to avoid doing a recap to avoid spoilers. Every scene is filled with passion for Sonic and his world, and this film will surely excite fans new and old. I was extremely surprised to find myself getting chills during several parts of the film (yes, chills in a Sonic The Hedgehog movie). When you break the movie down, there was lot of thought that went into adapting Sonic to the big screen. Elements from the video game universe are clearly visible and cleverly adapted create a hilarious and action packed adventure. The jokes kept coming, and for the most part, they were genuinely hilarious.
The cast for Sonic The Hedgehog included Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Tika Sumpter, Neal McDonough, and Adam Pally. Schwartz was the perfect casting for this Sonic adventure. Sonic’s heart and conviction comes across beautifully, and Schwartz really deserves the credit for the comedic timing and empathy. (Editor’s Note: If you enjoy this take on Sonic, make sure you check out the current Ducktales series for his amazing Dewey Duck.) Marsden proved to be the perfect foil to this iteration of Sonic. Placing Sonic in the real world was going to be a challenge, and Marsden proved to be the lovable officer who wanted to make a difference. I was a bit skeptical of the original casting announcement, but his character really worked well. Carrey delivered a performance that is up there with his work on The Mask and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. No one could have delivered on this character in the ways that he did, and it felt great to see the man in his element. Carrey doesn’t just show up for the party, he is immersed in his element and thrives in every single scene. The creative team found a way to balance both the “Dr. Robotnik” and “Dr. Eggman” aspects from the games, leading to some truly entertaining action sequences.
One of my favorite elements of this movie was the score. There are some subtle, and some not-so subtle, nods to the original video game music. The opening music will make you feel like a kid again. Be sure to keep an ear out for familiar songs throughout the story, as they prove to be an additional layer of entertainment.
With all of that being said, I do want to raise one big question. If so much thought was put into all of these elements, how did the original design make it through the approval process? For a movie that handled Sonic with the utmost care, it is kind of mind-boggling to think that the original design was going to run. In all honesty, if the first design had made it to the final release, I think it would have been so visually distracting that it could have ruined the experience for a lot of people. I know that a lot of work went into revising the design to get it to this version, and I hope that audiences truly appreciate the impact that it has on the enjoyment of the film.
Overall
When it comes down to it, Sonic has a lot of heart. The cast and crew deliver on every beat, and it never comes across as being forced. If you stick around until the end and aren’t excited by the sequel possibilities, I will be shocked. I really want to see what happens next, and I hope that we don’t have to wait a long time to see Sonic and Friends back in action.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Sonic The Hedgehog 4.5 out of 5 Golden Rings.
