Based on characters from the much loved 90s Sega game, Sonic the Hedgehog brings you a speedy blue hedgehog who teams up with small town police officer to escape the evil Dr. Robotnik who wants to steal Sonic's powers. 

 

You don’t have to know anything about the game to understand the movie because aside from the use of characters Sonic and Dr. Robotnik, a few vague references to mushroom planets and some gold rings, Sonic the Hedgehog really has nothing to do with the original source material.  Perhaps it should have incorporated some more of the games original magic, because despite the films artists correcting Sonic's appearance (after the original design was released and absolutely torn to shreds by the public) there is very little about Sonic the Hedgehog to make it stand out from the barrage of kids movies that come out each year. 

 

The best way to describe the Sonic the Hedgehog? Basic.

 

A feat in itself, because Dr. Robotnik is played by Jim Carrey, who in his archetypal over the top, face contorting, limb flailing fashion, should have created enough flare on his own to lift the film out from mediocrity.  Instead he's cringe worthy and borderline uncomfortable to watch. I understand why they used him, he's a 90's comedy icon (Ace Ventura, The Mask) so aligning him with Sonic, another 90's icon had to be a tactical move. Unfortunately, the kids in the theatre (if we are basing amusement on audible laughter) were far more amused by Sonic flossing than they were by any of Dr. Robotnik's antics – be that a reflection of the humour of kids or misplaced trust in Carrey's comedic abilities.  I actually thought Tom Wachowski (played by James Marsden ie the man who loves to play the most vanilla characters possible) was more genuinely amusing with his small quips than grossly exaggerated Dr. Robotnik.

 

Sonic the Hedgehog does have very well filmed action sequences.  A car chase with a transforming tank-turns-car-turns-motorbike-turns-helicopter thing was particularly awesome and amusing. And Sonic's point of view (since he's so fast and all…) fight scenes where everything is super slow and he runs casually amongst it causing mischief and mayhem are fun, but far from original *cough* Quicksilver from X-Men *cough*.  And I did love the pretty, glowy blue lightening Sonic generates. But unfortunately none of that was enough to carry the film. 

 

The film leaves the Sonic (and Sega in general) universe open for more films and spin offs, so let's hope whatever happens next packs more of a punch.