“Sonic the Hedgehog” Movie Review

Story posted February 19, 2020 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by Jack Grossman

Sonic the Hedgehog has never had it easy. Being one of gaming's prestigious icons hasn't spared the franchise from constant criticism, especially when their products are not that satisfying to not only the fans, but the general public.

After a public backlash concerning the blue blur's design for the big screen, studio Paramount decided it was time to go back to the drawing board. Now, the fastest thing alive is finally here in his newest media venture — and it's surprisingly very fun.

“Sonic the Hedgehog” is written for and marketed towards kids, and this movie is not subtle about it in its writing. The plot is very easy for children to follow - Sonic (voiced fantastically by Ben Schwartz), an alien from another world, has to search for his special rings to transport him home once he's discovered.

Finding an unlikely ally in Tom Wachowski (James Marsden), a cop of a small town, the pair travel to find Sonic's rings and return him home, all while escaping the pursuit of mad scientist Dr. Robotnik (brilliantly voiced by Jim Carrey).

As mentioned, “Sonic the Hedgehog”  is catered toward a much younger audience. However, this film is also catered toward the diehard fans of the blue blur. There are many references and easter eggs littered throughout the film that the most keen-eyed Sonic fans can spot, such as the names of famous levels in the games, or even a nod to sprite animations in Sonic's performance himself.

The amount of time put into making this movie seem very fun and not synthetic is not going unnoticed — while it is a very generic buddy movie, it has heart and charm to it that only a character like Sonic could bring. The crown jewels of the movie are Sonic himself and of course, the nefarious Robotnik - scenes cutting between them don't feel like a large change to get used to, and you are excited to watch the performances whenever they are on the screen.

Once Sonic and Robotnik appear on screen at the same time, however, their dynamic is uncanny - it is a near perfect portrayal of its source material. Audiences can tell that both Carrey and Schwartz had a very enjoyable time working on the movie, as their performances are top notch and the two actors give it their all, even for a plotline as simple as what they were given.

Despite the predictability, product placement, and disconnect if one isn't a fan, there isn't any reason not to see “Sonic the Hedgehog.” It's a perfect blend of child humor and fanservice - just as it should be. The movie isn't that ambitious, but it doesn't need to be. It hit all of the right marks for fans, and children will remember it fondly for many years to come. Plus, after a bit of tight cleaning, Sonic has never looked better. Hopefully there will be more of the blue blur in the coming years, but for now, it's a good time to let the Hedgehog have his day.

Rating: 4/5


Jack Grossman is a senior majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email jackdgrossman@gmail.com.