Movie Review: Sonic the hedgehog The movie

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.

You know, ever since after my review of "Pokemon: Detective Pikachu", i was surprised that Hollywood will eventually learn their lesson for making a movie based on video, which there will maybe a new hope for their knowledge, right? Well, only time will tell for some if they're smart enough, but i digress. Anyway, after that, it was time leave Nintendo to their rival that we all know and love (or perhaps hate for which side you're in), Sega with their famous blue blur.

"Sonic the hedgehog" is a 2020 movie based game that was directed by Jeff Fowler, produced by Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara and Takeshi Ito, then written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller.

From very beginning, we used to have Nintendo's mascot Mario on the big screen, which it was anything but fun and faithful from Mario series that we all know and love, though today, it kinda has a cult following with some are ok for different universe or even a familiar late casts. But when it comes to Sonic, its been decades that we've been waiting to see the fastest blue hedgehog on the big screen, either an animated movie or even a live action film. But of course, when we saw the trailer or the leak, we witnessed that something went wrong before it was fixed, which il get the presentation later.

So, with all that said, will Sonic will rise for the best comeback after the bad Sonic games, or this film makes "Sonic 06" looks like a masterpiece?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

When it comes to the story, we expected to be something fascinating and maybe following somewhat similar plot of from the original games or something? Well, it feels like a typical category that we've seen before.

The plot is that Sonic was being exposed by the tribe of echidnas thanks to his energy of supersonic speed, which his teacher Lonclaw the owl forces him to going to Earth to be safe without causing trouble. Fast forward to 10 years later, Sonic grew up to enjoying his life on Earth, but couldn't help that he's all alone (despite can't stop looking at Tom Wachowski), he causes his own speed power that ended up creating EMP at  Pacific Northwest for power outage. Because of his horrific accident, Sonic was being targeted by US Department of Defense that they brought roboticist and genius scientist Dr. Robotnik. When Tom Wachowski first witnessed Sonic he's trying to keep him safe against Robotnik, but Tom was also being targeted as domestic terrorist. Its up to our heroes to not only save their lives, but also dealing with Robotnik.

Although its nice to have Sonic in the movie, but it fell flat due to the story itself is just plain unoriginal, its basically another movie with a different being enters Earth, causing trouble, becoming friend with a human, saving the land to solve the problem and thats it, like we've seen several times from plenty of films out there. Not to mention, the writing is a little mix, sometimes its nicely written that it has a reference of video games, like the location's name, Sonic favorite dish and some others, but the game's reference are rather limited. But sometimes the writing feels like it belongs to the outsiders of Sonic for the use of pop culture references. No offense for anyone who likes pop culture references, but its just a poor use and excuse for comedic moments, but if it works for nerdy films. Despite the humor is there with mixed bad, but the downside is it didn't focus on developments what we like to know, but at least it has a nice add of elements, like using a golden ring for portals and an average chemistry between Tom and Sonic for the most part.

Even though the writing is ok for the most part, but the story feels its been done before like we've heard before.

The Presentation

Despite the story isn't as perfectly written, but at least the presentation is looking nice and probably the main deal when we saw the trailers for comparison.

For obvious starter, when we first saw the early trailer, it's no secret that when we saw the early design of Sonic from leak to trailer,its one of the worst character design we've ever seen, which i kinda understand to make him realistic, but in reality, it just came off as a nightmare image of abomination and even very loose design what we like in video game. In fact it was so bad, they have to push the film on this year's Valentine's day for not just re-write and reshoot, but also redesigning Sonic to make him looks like he belongs into video game, and the result is a lot better what we've seen, like its as if they knew they've done this badly and accepting to listening our negative reception. At least they have acknowledge, unlike any films out them when some them cry like a baby for box-office like Hellboy or Charlie's Angels, but i digress.

Another fascinating part of presentation, its the action scenes and the concepts of Dr. Robotnik's technologies with robots and vehicles. They're also fun to watch, even though the use of Sonic's speed is use for the gags, but it works for the execution that it also use for his action with his special ability with energy. Then there's Robotnik's technology, although they look pretty cool what he came up with like drones, tank and other vehicles, but he would've add more ideas like creating robots from animals, but just that my nit-pick. The action between Sonic and Robotnik's robots are pretty impressive with fast pace and rather run to watch.

Lastly, the location of the film is not bad, it basically taken place in Pacific Northwest like San Francisco and a fictional location on Montana called "Green Hills", though i wish if the name should've been belong to Sonic's home world in the beginning than in US, but then again, that's just me.

Even though it has some flaws of presentation, but it looks pretty good and feels like a video game patch than what we saw before.

The Characters

However, some characters in the movies are very limited, but it does have some good acting and somewhat nice casting.

First is our titular hero Sonic the Hedgehog (voiced by Ben Schwartz), I find him to be rather cool and somewhat cute in the movie. He's basically hip, curious, cocky and fun to live in Earth. Though despite he's the star in the movie, but my downside is that sometimes he could be annoying at the time with the obvious use of pop culture reference. Though Ben did a not bad role of Sonic, but he's not as memorable as Roger Craig Smith.

Speaking of big star, we have Dr. Robotnik (played by great comedian actor since the 90's, Jim Carrey), Even though i like Sonic for the most part, but Robotnik is easily the most likable villain of the movie, he's being genius, mad, genius and of course, he's funny as hell. Which is no secret we like to give a credit for Jim Carrey, he always love being a silly goofball actor, sure he had some films he had a good role in a bad movie, but with this, its pretty fun for him.

Then we have Tom Wachowski (played by James Marsden), who's basically a policeman in Green Hills where he wishes to be in SFPD outside of small-town and a typical caretaker of Sonic. I find him also ok, even if he couldn't avoid of being a token caretaker of alien being in various films. Not to mention, is it just me or is this the second film where he's helping a CG character since the 2011 film called "Hop"?

and finally we have Maddie (played by Tika Sumpter), who's the obvious love interest of Tom that she's a veterinarian for taking care animals and...   Thats pretty much it. Even though Tika did a not bad role, but she's pretty much used as Tom's development for his girlfriend and again, thats pretty much it.

The rest aren't as much detail to describe, Stone (played by an unknown actr Lee Majdoub) who's Robotnik's agent, Rachel (played by Natasha Rothwell) who's Maddie's nagging sister, Wade Whipple (played by Adam Pally) who's GHPD's police officer and Tom's best friend and  Crazy Carl (played by Frank C. Turner) who's a conspiracy theorist about Sonic.

The characters are rather ok at the times with humans, but its pretty obvious that Sonic and Robotnik are the highlights of the movie, while sonic is good for the time, but Carrey's mad scientist role easily steal the show.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, "Sonic the hedgehog the movie" is rather a good movie based on the video game that i can say, some writing is ok, the presentation looks fantastic that it feels like a video game patch and the protagonist and antagonist are good to watch. However, its just that sometimes, the other human characters are either average to unnecessary and some writing and the story feels unoriginal that we wishes to be something creative.

Even though its not one of the worst movie based on video game, but it has a potential and its good like Pokemon: Detective Pikachu. If you're hardcore fan of Sonic series, i'd say give this one a look, otherwise, you'll be a little bit disappointed if it doesn't have plenty of video game elements that we all know, but at least Paramount tried.

For that, im gonna give this one a 6.5/10

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.