Going Fast: ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Review

The Sonic the Hedgehog movie has had an interesting journey to make it to the big screen. It started out with teases and leaks to a newly designed and more “realistic” take on the blue blur. When the first trailer dropped and showed off what he looked like there was such a (deserved) backlash that it made the studio redo Sonic completely. It’s unprecedented that a backlash was so loud and heated that a studio decided it was worth it to listen to the fans and change something. But was it really worth it? HELL. YES. While the story is more paint by numbers set up, Sonic’s acting and his expressiveness, along with Jim Carrey circa 1994 elevate this film to a fun and carefree ride. Sonic the Hedgehog, directed by Jeff Fowler, starts out with a look gorgeous at his world with baby Sonic running through Green Hill Zone. I shudder to think what the original design’s baby form would have looked like but this baby Sonic is adorable and feisty. We learn that enemies are after him for his power and he is sent away to our world using his rings as portals a la the original Sonic the Hedgehog game. He sets up shop in the small town of Green Hills in the Pacific Northwest where he stays in hiding for ten years in fear of being captured. After being discovered by Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and a mishap that loses his rings, Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) must team up with the reluctant local sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) to ride down to San Francisco to get sonic to safety and off…