At long last, after all of the delays, we finally have it. This was something that Sonic fans of old have been waiting for and dreading for decades. Part of us wanted this more than anything while the sensible side of us never wanted it to come about, for fear that the quality would be so absurdly dreadful. Who in their right minds could blame us for thinking this? Not only was it a fish-out-of-water movie, not only did it have a CGI protagonist working with real life actors and not only was it a video game movie, but the original sonic character design spoke volumes for the content therein.
That original character design seemed to project a horrific omen of doom and damnation. If Sonic looked so terrible in the trailers, chances were that the rest of the movie was equally repugnant. This movie was sending us mixed signals from the very beginning. As terrible as the original design was, we still had a perfectly suitable actor for the antagonist. Jim Carrey seemed to be the one saving grace for this otherwise depicted dumpster fire. Even after the studio reacted well to the backlash of fans and movie-goers, the outlook was bleak to say the least. They agreed to change the design and that surprisingly worked out well in the end.
Then the movie came out and it was quite pleasa--wait, what?! The movie was good? Hold on, I think I skipped a paragraph or two. By all rights, this movie should never have worked to begin with. James Marsden couldn’t hack it with Russell Brand as the Easter Bunny in a very similar type of film, how in the holy land of crap did this actually pan out?
The movie was funny, charming, character based and focused on entertaining the audience while telling a compelling story. Sonic wasn’t quite the cool rockin’ dude we grew to love, but that’s because he had next to no human interaction for his entire life. The vast array of differences from the video game were well explained while also being very well executed. We didn’t spend too much time away from our main protagonist and antagonist. In fact, their interactions and solo scenes not only perfectly outlined exposition through the narrative, but also didn’t focus too much on mediocre backstory or stupid character traits. It was balanced.
Yes, we are not going to persecute them for ruining the original Sonic design. They paid for that in sweat and money and we got what we wanted from it. Now, Sonic looks like Sonic actually should. The CGI effects were well executed. It was very easy to suspend your disbelief, especially when it came to Dr. Robotnik’s mechanical drones. They looked like they were actually part of the movie.
Sonic’s speed and running effects were ridiculously well pulled off. There was even a great effect where it looked like he was running circles and there were hundreds of him because he was moving faster than the naked eye could comprehend. That’s some great detail.
Where the visuals undercut was hither and thither. At the beginning, when we first see Sonic as a child, the character design is very underwhelming. Beyond that, there are some nitpicks that I could go into, but just know that they are not a deal breaker and they are easily forgotten about as the movie progresses.
Where this movie thrives is the soundtrack. Gangster’s Paradise was so out of place in the trailer, so it’s good that it wasn’t in the actual movie. However, the music is lively and sometimes even gives you the nostalgia feels as you recognize some of the Blue Blur’s original music.
Sonic’s voice is sadly not Jaleel White, but Ben Schwartz was still superb. Even if you’re use to the old Sonic voices of the TV shows, it will take seconds before you get used to his take on the character. Without a doubt, he pulled off just about every line with flawless humor and wit. Sure, some of the dialogue was cheesy and some of it didn’t ring all that true, but that’s a minor nibble.
Focus, that’s the key word here. The story was tight and focused while also giving us the visuals and plot points to keep up the pace as it went along. Characters worked and coincided without feeling contrived or forced into easily avoidable situations. Whatever distractions they do put on the screen do not waste a whole lot of time and do not out stay their welcome. You get enough character backstory to relate to the characters and even care for them.
One major change from the source material is the mythical rings. Their function is vastly different from what we’re used to, but at the same time they perfectly fit where they sit. Instead of the rings being a source of energy, they serve to move the plot along at a good pace.
To call this a road trip movie would be quite shallow, as the driving sequences, while densely packed, do not take up a terrible portion of the overall film. Besides, the main driving scene is so action packed you kind of forget the road trip feel all together.
Let’s not kid each other, this is not high art. It is not going for any Oscars and it’s certainly not going to appeal to a universal audience. Therefore, the themes are more what you’d find in your bargain bin Dreamworks and Pixar movies. There’s the friendship quality that’s rather obtuse and palpable throughout the whole thing. Then there’s the evil inherent in a careless government and staying true to your modest roots as well as to yourself. It’s about what you’d expect. They’re ham-fisted, but not at all unwelcome.
That’s one great thing we can share with our kids, is the power of 90’s Nostalgic Kids Intellectual Properties. Sonic is perfect for the kids. If there were any cursing, it wasn’t noticeable. There’s no real violence or gore. Another great and surprising fact about this movie, aside from the overall quality, is that there is one single fart joke in the whole thing. It’s not entirely wholesome, though, there are small bits of fighting as well as a few jokes that only grownups would find a bit strange and oddly cruel. There was no raunchiness or overall shocking material, though. Bring the younglings.
Everyone pulled their own weight. Sonic and Robotnik were perfectly cast and James Marsden did what he needed to while still being overall likeable. He fit into the plot wonderfully and was not overly accepting of this outlandish situation, especially at first. Along with him was Tika Sumpter, an actress who was actually somewhat under utilized. She joined in on some of the adventures, but she was so likeable, I wouldn’t argue if she were in more of it.
Jim Carrey was a bright spot on the radar, for sure. From the very beginning, everyone sang the praise of his inclusion. What a perfect concept of a 90’s nostalgic movie featuring one of the 90’s sharpest comedic talent. He brought Dr. Robotnik to life in more ways than one. He was hateable in the most wonderful way and you really didn’t want him to leave the screen when his scenes ended.
All of the other minor characters served their purpose. There were no terrible performances, though some were a bit stiff. The cast was probably the real glue that made this whole movie stick together so well.
One place where this movie falls short is picking the plot out in a lineup. Yeah, it’s the alien in the real world who befriends a human and sets out to do something that will take a lot of gusto and fighting to accomplish. It’s bare bones as storylines go. Yet another reason why this movie should not have worked in the first place.
As a Sega fan, a Sonic fan, a 90’s kid and a part of the movie going public, I absolutely loved this film. One major factor in grading a movie is whether or not I would go see it again. I was ready to buy another ticket for either that day or the next day to see it again. It was just so much fun and so easy to watch. I think I never cringed once. If I did, it was quickly forgotten.
Is it for everyone? Obviously not. However, if you have kids and some time to kill, this movie is ideal. There is a reason why Sonic has lasted so long as a character. He is so easy to love and fun to look at that he has survived this long on charm and a handful of legendary games. This movie is going in my Bluray collection.
