TRASH IN MY EYE No. 58 of 2024 (No. 2002) by Leroy Douresseaux
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Running time: 99 minutes (1 hour, 39 minutes)
MPA – PG for action, some violence, rude humor and brief mild language
DIRECTOR: Jeff Fowler
WRITERS: Pat Casey & Josh Miller (based on the Sega video game)
PRODUCERS: Toby Ascher, Neal H. Moritz, Toru Nakahara, and Takeshi Ito
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen F. Windon (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Debra Neil-Fisher and Stacy Schroeder
COMPOSER: Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL)
FANTASY/FAMILY and ACTION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY
Starring: James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, Neal McDonough, Tom Butler, Frank C. Turner, Melody Niemann, and Jim Carrey; and (voices) Ben Schwartz and Donna Jay Fulks
Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2020 action-adventure, fantasy and comedy film directed by Jeff Fowler. The film is based on the Sega Corporation video game series and media franchise that began with the 1991 Sega Genesis game, Sonic the Hedgehog. In Sonic the Hedgehog the movie, Sonic takes refuge on Earth, but when his speed accidentally knocks out power in part of the United States, he draws the attention of a mad scientist.
Sonic the Hedgehog introduces Sonic (voice of Ben Schwartz). He is an anthropomorphic (which means he is an animal that can walk and talk like a human), blue hedgehog who has the ability to move at superhuman speed. Ten years earlier, Sonic fled to Earth to escape his enemies with the aid of a golden ring that opened a portal to Earth. He carried a bag of more such rings with him to Earth.
Currently, Sonic lives an enjoyable secret life in a cavern under the rural town of Green Hills, Montana. He zooms around the area, and has become something of a local legend, “the blue devil.” He longs to make friends and spies on local sheriff, Thomas Michael “Tom” Wachowski (James Marsden), whom Sonic calls the “Donut Lord,” and Tom's wife, Maddie (Tika Sumpter), whom Sonic calls “Pretzel Lady.” What Sonic does not know is that Tom and Maddie are planning to relocate to San Francisco.
It is Sonic's loneliness which leads him to initiating an accident that causes a massive power outage across the Pacific Northwest. Determined to discover the origin of this power outage, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff reluctantly enlists the services of eccentric roboticist and scientific genius, Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Now, Sonic is forced to seek help from Tom Wachowski, but can this thrown-together duo escape the clutches of Robotnik and his drone army?
I had no intention of watching Sonic the Hedgehog from the first time I heard about the movie's production back in the 20-teens. I also had no plans on seeing its 2022 sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but when it was first released, my niece asked to me to take her to the theater to see it, as she did not want to wait for it to stream on Paramount+. Because she rarely asks me to take her to the movies and because she usually turns down my offers to accompany me when I'm going, I (reluctantly) agreed to see Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with her.
Well, the third film, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, has been released, and my niece wants me to take her to see that one, too. I found Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to be much better than I thought it would be, and I was able to follow it without having seen the first film. However, I decided that it was past time to see the original, and I was able to because it is available via my Amazon Prime Video subscription.
I must say that I found the first film pleasingly pleasant. Sonic the Hedgehog's visual effects (VFX) and humor drive the film's narrative and makes even the most raucous action and chases scenes sometimes breathtaking, sometimes funny, and sometimes both. I think the film's director, Jeff Fowler, and his film editors get the most humor and energy that they can out of a lightweight script. The result is an lighthearted and entertaining family film.
Voice actor Ben Schwartz brings Sonic to life as a fully developed film character. Schwartz makes Sonic's doubts and dilemmas seem genuine, and his exuberant voice performances makes Sonic one of the most lovable CGI movie characters in recent memory.
The second standout performance comes from Jim Carrey. With Carrey, audiences get the good, the bad, and ugly of the actor and former stand-up comedian's constant over-the-top mode. However, in Sonic the Hedgehog, he gives a delightful comic performance. His Robotnik is not so much over-the-top as he is the wackiest of wacky mad scientist; then, Carrey bumps that up a notch. Carrey would actually steal this movie if Ben Schwartz was not pitch perfect as Sonic.
So it turns out that I like Sonic the Hedgehog as much as I liked Sonic the Hedgehog 2. I highly recommend Sonic the Hedgehog for those looking for something that would be quite a treat for family movie night.
6 of 10
B
★★★ out of 4 stars
Friday, December 20, 2024
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