Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Review #2323: Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Cast: 

Jim Carrey (Dr. Ivo Robotnik / Professor Gerald Robotnik), Ben Schwartz (Sonic), Keanu Reeves (Shadow), Idris Elba (Knuckles), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Tails), James Marsden (Tom Wachowski), Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski), Lee Majdoub (Agent Stone), Krysten Ritter (Director Rockwell), Adam Pally (Wade), Natasha Rothwell (Rachel), Shemar Moore (Randall), with Alyla Browne (Maria), and Tom Butler (Commander Walters) Directed by Jeff Fowler (#1353 - Sonic the Hedgehog and #1830 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2)

Review: 

Believe it or not, there aren't that many video game movies that reach "3" that anyone is actually anticipating. Sure, the first film (as released in 2020) was a pretty decent starter in gently getting folks to be invested in a silly blue blur (as originally developed by Sonic Team in 1991) that goes fast but has to learn about friends, stuff, and, well, a villain (Carrey) being the big highlight when it comes to useful bombast. The sequel (released in 2022) expanded on the lore with two more cuddly dudley creatures for an experience that was reasonably satisfying when it wasn't too grounded in the human element (we are not going to talk about the wedding sequence). It has been a while (there apparently was a "TV series" with one of its characters, but I'll be damned if I spend any time on a streaming show), but here we are with a third movie. This one shares the same writers as before in Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington. Evidently, a fourth film is already in development for about three years from now. 

It isn't hard to say that the best parts of the film is when it settles down with familiar characters and lets a moment of spectacle breathe. No, I don't mean a music montage or a litany of references, I mean getting to the point and having fun. It helps to have a committed cast to deliver on building worthwhile stakes and, well, making you happy to see beyond the Earth. The games were designed to play fast and loose with its environment (whether in the dimension of "2D" or otherwise) and an egg-shaped man that loves wreaking havoc in the name of science or something like that. For a movie that runs 110 minutes, it does manage to carry water in solid entertainment that delivers on its expectations in terms of execution in story beats (primarily with Carrey and Reeves). It leaves the viewer (Sonic fanatic or not) with satisfaction and curiosity to see what lurks further in the undiscovered country of further adventures. Admittedly, I was most curious about how Carrey would approach this film because, well, he was "serious about retiring" and would only consider a really good script to come back. Far more than just a money grab or a makeup trap, he manages to do well in generating amusement in the double act (Brendan Murphy played the double for scenes requiring, well, two Carreys) of eccentric geniuses that show distinct layers in terms of being shaped in the disappointment in humanity, whether that means megalomania or something worse. In other words, it isn't just Carrey playing it silly with a big suit with phoning in, he is clearly having enough fun in bombast to sell it all the way down. You might be familiar with the character of Shadow (yet another hedgehog), as first featured in the game Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001 (as created by Takashi Iizuka and Shiro Maekawa with design by Kazuyuki Hoshino for what was meant to be just one game but ended up inspiring its own spinoff game). It helps to have committed voicework from Reeves in making a capable antihero that presents useful pathos and a capable threat to match against Schwartz in beings shaped by the people ripped from them that lives in memory (whether that means throwing a wrench in the usual playful energy or coarse gun-toting coolness). Sure, there are a few worthy quips from the friendly trio (Schwartz-O'Shaughnessey-Elba), but it does find enough time to make the flashback sequences have meaningful structure that doesn't bog itself down in too much self-importance or self-awareness (okay, one duo joke to go with a "garden" is worth it), complete with semblance of having Marsden and Sumpter (fine presences but hey, we are now in the presence of further quick creatures). The action is relatively charming for those who like their sequences with relatively bright lighting and actual time spent in space before having one little rug pull to set for the future (film wise anyway, don't try and sell me on streaming, gaming is my other pastime). In general, it is a neat sequel, establishing further beats to the mythology of speed creatures that happen to reside on Earth for fun that brings charming excitement and danger for the best installment (so far) of the film series.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Well, it is nice to celebrate fourteen years on the familiar grounds of the Internet for movies. A historic October to go with worthwhile theme-months in New Directors (January)/another "A" in August/the November starters/finishers will surely mean bigger and better heights for Season XV in the year ahead. Now let's close out Season 14 with a few more bangers...

Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Review #1830: Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Cast: 

James Marsden (Tom Wachowski), Jim Carrey (Dr. Ivo Robotnik), Ben Schwartz (Sonic), Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski), Idris Elba (Knuckles), Natasha Rothwell (Rachel), Adam Pally (Wade), Shemar Moore (Randall), Lee Majdoub (Agent Stone), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Tails), Melody Nosipho Niemann (Jojo), Tom Butler (Commander Walters), Brad Kalilimoku (Drench), Krista Alvarez (Faucet), and Donna Jay Fulks (Longclaw) Directed by Jeff Fowler (#1353 - Sonic the Hedgehog)

Review: 

You remember the Sonic the Hedgehog games, I am sure. I know I do, because I am quite a fan of these games (as created by Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima, and Hirokazu Yasuhara), which have been published by Sega since June 23, 1991 that generally involves quick gameplay alongside springs and loops; not every game has been great, but it has a special place among video games (to the point where June 23 is a special day among folks like me). Of course, I'm also sure you remember the first Sonic film, if only because it was just two years ago (released on Valentine's Day right before you-know-what in 2020) that one got to see a reasonable adaptation of a video game series that I am a reasonable fan of, even if had a weird road to adaptation, such as a loud response to the original design of the title character. It was fine, although I would maintain that all the hubbub about a design would have been for naught if it had been an animated film rather than live action when it comes to capturing some sort of imagination. I decided to re-watch the original film before seeing this one, and honestly the quality of the film was basically the same as I remembered it, which was average, one that played it a bit safe with some of its actions that tried to cultivate a down-to-earth feel to the character that probably benefitted most from Carrey and Marsden being around. The writers for the original film in Pat Casey and Josh Miller return, with each writing the screenplay and story while John Whittington co-wrote the screenplay. 

Look, it does okay as a sequel. It manages to include a few more references to the video games that it admires well while also doing a useful job in satisfying the family-friendly crowds. The bar for video game movies is still pretty low to begin with, but I think one can say this film is slightly above the previous film despite the fact that it only just manages to scratch the surface of where one could go with actually making a film of this material that doesn't seem like a smaller adventure of the games. I find it quite odd that a film series focused on the message of family and working together works best when it actually allows itself to breathe with its video game characters rather than straining in references. The two films are quite similar in their styles, for better or worse: they have decent action pieces, a decent cast, and yet each have a weird imbalance of trying to do humor. Besides, now we have a movie of 122 minutes (twenty-three minutes longer than the first one), which only proves that some movies do need trimming - if one needs a dance contest in their movie, send a strongly worded letter to me, since I rolled my eyes.

At any rate, Schwartz maintains the engaging appeal that comes with this title character is playful in a manner that keeps the spirit of the games around without too many childish annoyances. O'Shaughnessey & Elba make an interesting pair of voices to join along the small furry video game creature crowd, since the former has voiced the character for a number of years and the latter is a fairly recognizable name actor. In that sense, they fit fairly well for the roles in general charm, one that doesn't have to force the lines through for humor (such as with Elba, who seems to have fun with it). Marsden & Sumpter may not have as much to do, but at least they fill their time in the family angle with reasonable conviction that doesn't make one waver when it comes to trying to make one believe that movies about fast blue hedgehogs need families. Carrey has continued to hone-in the heightened egomaniac that he was going for in the first film, which results in a satisfying performance, absurd enough in bombast that continues to make a proper foil (now, the part at the end with him turning into a special effect in a green-lined suit, that is debatable). Rothwell is part of the most puzzling sequence of the film, which involves a wedding played as fake that "sort of" moves the plot along (which is where Moore and Butler come in), but it only reminds me to make sure I don't check my watch often (this is also true for Pally). I should mention that even with all these little quibbles, there is at least a semblance of adventure and promise that is filled, one that yearns to keep its audience engaged without insulting them. If one expects a movie around the same quality as the Sonic film before it, they should be reasonably satisfied, and I suppose that is more than enough.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

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.