Sonic the Hedgehog.

Review #1353: Sonic the Hedgehog.

Cast: 
Ben Schwartz (Sonic), Jim Carrey (Dr. Ivo Robotnik), James Marsden (Tom Wachowski), Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski), Lee Majdoub (Stone), Natasha Rothwell (Rachel), Adam Pally (Wade Whipple), and Neal McDonough (Major Bennington) Directed by Jeff Fowler.

Review: 
Honestly, I had meant to do this film earlier last month, but getting Tribute to the Decades to be completed in time felt more important at the time, and this applies to another 2020 film review in the future. 

As the cliché goes, looks can be deceiving. This is a film that was delayed from its original intended release of November 2019, with trailers being released in April (coincidentally two months before another film with a video game fur creature would come out with Pokémon: Detective Pikachu). However, negative reaction to the design of the main character (which had more humanoid features, particularly with the small eyes) led to a five-month redesign and a February release. It is interesting to think about comparisons about this film with its effects to the aforementioned Pikachu film, since both are based off video game properties with fur characters with varying success over three decades, with one film being set in a murky city and the other being a rural town (with some of the climax being in San Francisco). The Sonic series was developed by Sega through Sonic Team, with two main creators in programmer Yuji Naka and artist Naoto Ohshima. I have been a fan of the series for a few years, mindful of the critique and occasional ridicule that the games have had over the past two decades but appreciative of the charm brought by its main character that makes it just as interesting as say the Mario franchise, which had its own oddball movie adaptation. Video game films haven't had the greatest track record, perhaps because they can't quite hold up adapting the source material into something worth seeing as a movie. There is one easy thing to say about both films: they are incredible in mediocrity (with Sonic perhaps being slightly better), being silly charming films that are in need of more ambition for such PG material. The action proves as okay as watching an actual Sonic game. You know most of where it is going to go because you have been through most of these beats before, unless one really is a kid watching these films fresh of mind. If one enjoys the ride, then they'll be fine with where it dashes to. The most interesting thing about the film is not so much the title character itself but with Carrey. He exudes a manic energy that chews scenery like it is candy, which is important for a super-genius tech villain with only a few basic characteristics that desires camp from someone like Carrey to really generate interest. Sure, Schwartz does a fine main voice, one that makes a few charming quips and makes for a useful presence that evolves with the film for its 99 minute pace without too many hobbles. Marsden, as the straight man to a nut and a blue blur, proves fine. While the film seems more interesting in its brief moments not on Earth than in it, Marsden and the others hold water enough. The film may think it is clever to have bits about loneliness with its title character, but one just wants to see a snappy adventure (beyond quasi-road movie tactics, at least). If the film had been released with the original design, it would've been an average film to ridicule a bit at. Now it is just an average film, successful at entertainment that will hopefully inspire a follow-up more rewarding.

Next Review: The Bank Dick.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.