On top of the Paramount logo having rings instead of the usual stars (always like how studios play with their vanity plates lately), the Sega logo at the beginning also shows a much larger world of their games in play a la Marvel! I will address this more later, but that’s a neat touch.
The two are then ambushed by a tribe of echidnae, forcing Longclaw to send Sonic into hiding when he’s still a child. Using one of many golden rings, Sonic is able to escape to Earth; but Longclaw ends up captured by the echidnae! While her fate is not entirely clear (nor the true motives of the echidnae), Sonic is left to fend for himself.
We cut to the present day, roughly 10 years later in Green Hills; Montana (I see what they did there), a small town resided over by a police officer named Tom Wachowski (James Marsden, “X-Men” series). He also wants to transfer to San Francisco alongside his veterinarian wife Maddie (Tika Sumpter). I have to wonder: how much did Zillow pay to get into this movie over other real estate brokers?
After rescuing a turtle to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” Sonic exposits about his time hiding out; dubbing Tom “Donut Lord”, mentioning the time he’s spent “outside, looking in” while they’re watching “Speed.” More on that later, but I will admit this movie is much better than I was worried about it being as yet another sort of “reverse Isekai” story.
While Sonic is able to hide out, now being closer to his age in most other continuities (15); other townsfolk such as Crazy Carl (Frank C. Turner) are growing suspicious of “The Blue Devil”, and I like the little nod the movie gives to the “Sanic Hedgeman” meme with his sketch.
On that note, I also love some the Easter eggs in his hideout: including a reference to “Hilltop” on a discarded sign he’s using as a ping-pong table; and the sigil on his headband when he’s practicing with nunchaku.
Most of all, the map of “Safe Worlds” that Longclaw left him is actually based on the original design doc from the first game. He’s not happy about potentially having to go to “Mushroom Hill Zone” should things go south. That’s the first stage from Sonic and Knuckles, and his quip that he hates mushrooms is a subtle dig at his longtime rival Mario. Also, between that and the echidnae that ambushed him; it’s not often we get sequel setup near the beginning of the movie.
Sonic also witnesses a baseball game, deciding to practice himself that night; able to play everyone on the field at the same time! Running around the field, he goes so fast he ends up not only causing a power outage in town; but across the Pacific Northwest, even knocking out a satellite!
This ends up attracting the attention of the Pentagon, causing the military to enlist “Robotnik” and his assistant Agent Stone (Lee Madjoub) to investigate. I must say, that Carrey steals the show here: channeling the same manic energy that made him famous; and adding another great entry to his list of comedic villains such as the Riddler, the Grinch and Count Olaf to name a few.
Tom gets a call from Maddie, who’s already met up with in-laws Rachel (Natasha Rothwell) and Jojo (Melody Niemann). He then notices some noise in the tool shed; and goes to get the tranquilizer gun he was going to use on the raccoons, much to his wife’s chagrin.
Now, I must address the elephant in the room: the infamous VFX redesign. Even as someone who didn’t hate the design as much as some others, I agree it was laughable for all the wrong reasons. It recalled memories of both the live-action Super Mario Bros. and 2000s Scooby-Doo movies. I also pointed out a game-accurate design is possible with current CG tech, citing both Disney’s Wreck it-Ralph films and WB’s Ready Player One as proof. Suffice to say, it was a good call on the damage control, and I have more to say later. Again, not the last time they had to redesign CG.
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Tom tranqs Sonic, who drops his bag of rings on the Transamerica building’s spire in San Francisco; forming a reluctant alliance to escape. First, Robotnik accosts Tom about Sonic; and Robotnik sends more smaller drones to scope out the house. Again, I love how Carrey portrays the increasing obsession with Sonic as the movie goes on.
As Sonic super spins down the stairs, Robotnik finds one of Sonic’s quills as Sonic comes out! Tom actually decks Robotnik as Sonic jumps onto the drone; disabling it with a skillet as he and Tom escape in Tom’s truck! Agent Stone meets up with Robotnik, who declares his intent to capture Sonic; also ordering “new frames” after his were damaged in the attack.
Tom is skeptical of Sonic, who tries to get to San Francisco on his own; and promptly lands in the Pacific Ocean. Very subtle way of working in his dislike of water. Apparently, hedgehogs can actually swim, but Yuji Naka thought otherwise. Though there weren’t search engines in 1991, there were these things called encyclopedias listing that fact. Tom grudgingly agrees to help Sonic, who promptly shakes himself dry; giving us the blessed image of “floofy Sonic”.
I really enjoy how Tom is essentially the “straight man” to contrast the more wild Sonic. Given how crazy the series and the world have been in my lifetime alone; making this into a sci-fi road trip buddy comedy makes a weird kind of sense.
That night, Tom and Sonic stop at a roadhouse diner known as the “Piston Pit,” claiming a disguised Sonic is a 43-year-old. Hey: He doesn’t look a day over 29! Some barflies accost Tom and Sonic, who narrowly escape a bar brawl via a “bullet time” demonstration of his speed. Insert Matrix or Quicksilver reference here.
Tom and Sonic then stop at a motel for the night, and I really like the tongue-in-cheek style of the humor in this film. Jeff Fowler, the director had previously worked with Tim Miller on the first “Deadpool” film; and this kind of plays like a family-friendly version of that.
The next morning, Robtonik is able to trace Tom’s truck just as it crosses the Siskiyou county line; and the border into California! As Tom and Sonic converse, Robotnik sends more drones after them; including one that’s as big as a tank! Sonic then slingshots off the truck and knocks out the drone with his Spin Dash! I honestly don’t have a problem with the dance he does, though I do hear the Crab Rave in my head when I see it.
Robtonik then sends a series of mini-drones after Tom and Sonic; including some on wheels and in the air that resemble the Motobugs and Buzzbombers if they were redesigned by Apple Inc.
A sticky bomb is narrowly removed from Sonic; but he’s still hurt when he’s caught in the explosion! He’s still alive, but Tom needs to get him to safety before it’s too late! Robotnik then takes a lick of Sonic’s quill as Tom and Sonic make it to San Francisco!
Maddie and Jojo are glad to see Tom, despite Rachel’s objections. As Maddie starts tending to Sonic’s wounds, Robotnik starts examining the quill to music! Nice that his mobile lab also doubles as a nightclub. Agent Stone then comes in with their coffee, leading to another great comedic exchange and the proper introduction of the film’s version of the “Egg Mobile.”
While Sonic is thankfully not injured internally, he does have external damage. As for this shot of his feet when Maddie removes his banged-up shoes; this movie is rated PG, fellas. Get your mind out of the gutter!
Jojo even makes Sonic his iconic friction-proof red sneakers! That’s actually a neat callback to that weird promo comic when the series was still new. Also love how this movie strikes a nice balance between the laid-back persona of the JP canon and the attitude of the western canon.
They all make their way to the Transamerica building, sneaking Sonic inside of Tom’s duffel bag. I already made the “Se7en” connection in Pokémon Detective Pikachu, so let’s move on. Also, the bag had his dirty undies: the “whites.” That’s right, dude, the weight: the ringer cannot look empty.
Sonic finds the bag of rings, and sends Tom and Maddie home so they’ll be safe as Dr. Robotnik approaches him, catching us up to speed. The film had spent another $5 million on visual effects redesigns, $30 million on reshoots and overall upped the budget from $85 million to $120 million. That was definitely the right call to make on damage control.
Robotnik is also wearing a “flight suit” that resembles his familiar red outfit from the games; complete with the polarized welding goggles! Sonic is nearly done in again, but since he has and recovers his rings; he’s all right! Definitely makes more sense than turning the Mushroom Kingdom into “Dinohattan.” Fingers crossed about the animated reboot.
The final chase in the film leads Sonic through Paris, China and finally Egypt; before realizing he has to fight Robotnik! Whipping up a tornado of sand, he leads Robotnik back to Green Hills for a final showdown! He almost loses his rings again, but Tom is able to give them back to Sonic as he attacks Robotnik! Even Crazy Carl is sticking up for the “Blue Devil!”
Moved by Tom and the others, Sonic starts glowing in blue light! Robotnik turns his weapons on Sonic, but Sonic bounces on and off the Egg Mobile; disabling it! Rather than escape to Mushroom Hill Zone, he uses his rings and one final attack to send Robotnik there instead!
Though the actual games’ tunes are only briefly heard on a ragtime piano; overall, I think Tom “Junkie XL” Holkenborg did a good job of capturing the sounds of electronic music, driving rock and orchestral music I associate with the series. Tom and Maddie are then granted amnesty, and $50 of Olive Garden credit for their actions; on the condition that they never acknowledge what happened with Sonic or Robotnik. So, just like Sonic Team and the 2006 game then.
So, we close formally on Sonic finding a new refuge in Tom and Maddie’s attic; and Tom and Maddie choosing to remain in Green Hills.
Our first stinger is Robotnik in the Mushroom Hill Zone; still having one more quill! Apparently he wants to wear a fat suit in the sequel; maybe they have an Olive Garden there.
After that, we have a 16-bit credits sequence set to “Speed Me Up” by Wiz Khalifa. I would totally play this game; way more deserving than Street Fighter to have that happen: to make a game about a movie about a game.
Our second stinger features Miles “Tails” Prower (voice of Colleen Villard), who has found Sonic! Of course the sequel will be perfect to introduce him. As he flies off into the forest, I can honestly say that Sega and Paramount pulled it off.
So, that’s the live-action “Sonic the Hedgehog:” much like the games this film adapts, Sonic’s adaptations have varied in quality wildly, but I’ve enjoyed all of them in some way; and this film is no exception. Much like Pokémon Detective Pikachu last year, this film is a vast improvement over many past live-action films about video games and Japanese IPs (the latter of which Paramount hasn’t had good luck with before). To date, the film has made over $145 million domestically and over $306 million worldwide on its $120 million budget; which is good news for the planned sequel and other potential Sega films. I’d love a horror-themed House of the Dead reboot, with Jason Statham as Agent G for example.
I’ve stated before that movies about American superhero comic books went through a similar pattern before they got consistently good critical and box office returns. The trick is to take an approach that works with the new medium rather than against it. Whatever happens next, I hope the filmmakers can keep improving.
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