There are a variety of interpretations on Sonic the Hedgehog’s lore, each with their own unique tone. Some are zany and comedic (Adventures of Sonic and the Sonic Boom cartoon), others are darker and more serious (Sonic SatAM and the Archie/Fleetway/IDW comics). Director Jeff Fowler and writer Patrick Casey manage to strike a good balance between the serious and the silly in Sonic’s big-screen debut under Paramount Studios, and I can see why it’s quickly gaining a big following. A lot is packed into the 100-minute runtime, crafted as an origin story for the “blue devil” as the town of Green Hills, Montana calls him.
While the video game icon is as fast, furious and funny as you’d expect him to be (Sonic and the FF franchise share producers in fact), this creative team has crafted a more boyish and innocent Sonic that feels distinct from how his coolness is presented in the games.
Voiced with humor and heart by Ben Schwartz, here he uses his trademark golden rings as expanding portals to hop between different worlds, forced to use them as a boy escaping from enemies seeking his power (a flashback to his childhood is also a tribute to Stage One of the 1991 Sonic game). Hiding on Earth, he knows his chosen town like the back of his gloved hand while using speed and stealth to keep out of sight, but Sonic’s growing loneliness is taking its toll.
Of course, Doctor Robotnik still isn’t going to give him a break, who can’t wait to sic his robot drone army after the strange blue alien on behalf of the US government. Played by Jim Carrey with that trademark wild energy you’ll remember from the 1990s as The Mask and Cable Guy, he’s a wacked motormouth who considers himself to be the smartest man alive and loves his machines more than people, as all good Robotniks do.
When he loses his rings trying to hide, Sonic immediately turns to Tom, the kind local sheriff (played by James Marsden), and his veterinarian wife Maddie (Tika Sumpter). He affectionately nicknames Tom “the donut lord”, and the two spark an unexpectedly warm, almost parental relationship while trying to retrieve Sonic’s gold portals. A night the two spend at a rowdy biker bar provide easily some of the funniest gags I’ve seen in the movies in months.
Carrey is understandably getting good praise for being a scene-stealer, but it was the sweetness of Schwartz’s Sonic that left the biggest impression on me. He’s speedy and hyperactive as he is in most of the games and cartoons, but this story also presents him as a lost boy who really just wants a family and friends. Even though it’s a love letter to 1990’s kids, the movie smartly never tries to force-feed Sonic’s attitude on the audience. One scene with Sonic watching kids playing, then alone on a baseball diamond will easily make you want to hug him.
This is Sonic: Year One, and he’s gradually developing his powers and a sense of heroism, so I can also see where many of the “shonen anime” comparisons are coming from- not just in terms of the action scenes, which feel almost MCU-quality at points, but also when it comes to his character development. Ben’s performance is easily the most emotional Sonic has been since Jaleel White arguably.
Most of the side cast is enjoyable, though some roles feel a bit too brief. Natasha Rothwell is pretty funny as Tom’s exasperated sister-in-law, while Sumpter and Marsden especially are charming together. In fact, save for a couple of corny gags, the film’s briefness is maybe my one major critique.
You’d expect Sonic’s first film to be fast-paced, but there’s a lot of setup within this first film for a potential sequel (including two post-credit scenes that will definitely get big pops from audiences). I’d have liked at least ten to fifteen more minutes of runtime to develop some of the ideas they’re setting up, but what we do get is certainly a fun time.
For long-time Sonic fans, there’s plenty to love about this movie, which outside a couple of flaws is easily within the top tier of films based on games so far. Essentially this is a comedic superhero origin story, but that’s more or less what he is. There’s overall enough action, wit and especially warmth to appeal to families and gamers alike, and Ben’s big-hearted take on Sonic will definitely help grow his already big fanbase. If you’ve sped to your multiplex to check it out, head to official_fan on Twitter and tell us what you thought!