Sonic the Hedgehog is the newest movie adaptation of the classic Sega video game. Despite the early backlash, I went into the movie with an open mind. I grew up a huge Sega fan and was excited to see this take form in live-action on the big screen.
Ben Schwartz voices the speedy Sonic in this film and he portrayed the pint-sized character perfectly. After being disappointed with Ryan Reynolds’ voice as Pikachu in Detective Pikachu, I had low expectations. That also made me realize just how important the voice in a film like this is and Schwartz nailed it.
James Marsden portrays Tom Wachowski (but Sonic calls him “The Donut Lord”), the sheriff of Green Hills, in this big-screen adaptation. He befriends Sonic and together they try to take down Dr. Robotnik. The pair are made for each other. They’re charmingly hilarious and impossible not to love.
Another standout is one that made a huge comeback through the role. I’m obviously talking about Jim Carrey, who’s on the big screen once again. In this adventure/fantasy flick, Carrey plays Dr. Robotnik. Robotnik is a crazy scientist that wants Sonic’s lightning-fast speeds for himself. Carrey’s portrayal in this role reminded me of his character in The Cable Guy. The oddity and the quirkiness of the characters was seemingly parallel. In short, Carrey was a fantastic villain.
I can’t discuss this movie without mentioning the filmmakers. As I mentioned, they got some blowback because of Sonic’s appearance early on (if you missed that, see the timeline here). They worked tirelessly to make sure they got it right. They created a movie everyone would love and the VFX and CGI in the film are both mesmerizing.
Although the visuals in this film are stunning, so was the elevated experience Nashville Noise had. We saw this one in 4DX and it was, by far, the best 4DX experience I’ve had (so far). Approximately 80% of the movie included the seats moving. Whether it was Sonic spinning from one side of the screen to the other or the fight sequences between him and Dr. Robotnix, it was like being on a two-hour rollercoaster ride.
Sonic the Hedgehog was definitely not perfect and neither was the script but it was entertaining and filled with action, comedy and a fantastic villain. I’d recommend checking it out if you’re a Sonic fan but, even more so, I’d recommend seeing it in 4DX. It’s so worth it.
The movie is currently in theaters and, if you’re in Nashville, you can catch it in 4DX at Regal Opry Mills. Find movie times here.
