Movie Review: Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog * ½ / *****

Directed by: Jeff Fowler.

Written by: Patrick Casey & Josh Miller based on characters created by Yuji Naka & Naoto Ohshima & Hirokazu Yasuhara

Starring: Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog), Jim Carrey (Dr. Ivo Robotnik), James Marsden (Tom Wachowski), Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski), Natasha Rothwell (Rachel), Adam Pally (Billy Robb), Lee Majdoub (Agent Stone), Neal McDonough (Major Bennington), Tom Butler (Vice Chairman Walters), Frank C. Turner (Crazy Carl), Melody Nosipho Niemann (Jojo).

 

I really, truly try not to grow overly cynical about children’s entertainment these days, even as I know that most of it is about brand extension, and marketing opportunities, and synergies, etc. – and less about creating quality entertainment for children. It’s always been this way to a certain extent, and certainly most children don’t seem to realize it when they watch the movies aimed at them (given how nostalgic so many adults are for the marketing exercises disguised as movies from their youth are, many adults don’t realize – or more likely don’t care – either). And then something like Sonic the Hedgehog comes along, and to be honest, at least temporarily destroys what little faith I have that the filmmakers and studios have any real artistic goals in mind when they make these films. This takes crass marketing to a new level.

 

Sonic is, of course, the titular Hedgehog, who began his existence as in a Sega Genesis game – the game that came with the system when you purchased it in the 1990s – and their attempt to have a success like Nintendo had with the Super Mario Brothers. Since then, he has inspired more games, at least one animated TV show, and a lot of merchandise. Like Alvin the Chipmunks, this movie is a live action/animated hybrid meant to cash in on that nostalgia factor for parents of my generation who grew up with Sonic, who will take their kids, who may or may not him, to the movies because we have affinity for the brand – or at the very least, recognize the name.

 

I could go into the plot of the movie – but what really would be the point? It’s basically a chase film where Sonic, an alien hiding out on earth, has to go on the run (in a car, even though Sonic is the fastest being in existence) with a small town cop (James Marsden) to get away from the smartest man in the world (Jim Carrey) who, of course, just wants to use Sonic for his powers.

 

The cast is full of talented people. Ben Schwartz does the voice of Sonic, and brings the right manic energy to the role. Marsden is an actor I have always liked – especially when he’s being goofy and funny, and am disappointed that Hollywood seemingly doesn’t know what to do with him. Tika Sumpter, who plays Marsden’s wife, is a talented actress. As for Carrey, I’ve admired his willingness to try different things in recent years, to not fall back on his manic ways – which he excels at – over and over again. Here, I guess, the paycheque was too big to pass up – because it’s the schitickest performance of Carrey’s in years.

 

Will kids like the film? Well, mine did – they don’t seem to notice all the crass cynicism behind the marketing, the product placement just this side of Wayne’s World, and the lazy execution of just about everything in the film. They respond to the manic energy on display throughout the film – the juvenile jokes, and the fast moving action sequences. Kids are, well, they’re dumb when it comes to this sort of thing – they’ll eat this up, enjoy it, and forget about it until Sonic 2 comes out – and it will come out, considering what this film made in its opening weekend, and the final scene of the film that sets up a sequel.

 

But shouldn’t we, as parents, demand more for our kids? We should, shouldn’t we? Perhaps we shouldn’t go to films like this when we know they’re nothing but cynical marketing ploys, dreamed up by executives, not by filmmakers, and who have such lazy execution. We don’t though – and I’m as guilty as anyone. We feed our kids junk, which perpetuates the cycle. Most times, it doesn’t bother me. I ate up a lot of junk as a kid, and like most, I outgrew it eventually – demanded more from my entertainment. And it is a pivotal moment in a kid’s life when they first realize that what they are watching is crap. I just wish my kids would get there a little bit faster.