Video game adaptations to a feature film are often a very dicey proposition. At worst, they are notoriously bad with the only noteworthy aspect being the ability to mock how terrible it is. At best, you might get a film that die hard fans of the game love but general audiences hate, or vice versa. When the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog hit the Internet, there was an instant pile-on from all corners that actually convinced the filmmakers and studio to delay the movie and invest money in revamping the design of the titular character. This was a movie that was fighting an uphill battle from the beginning, but when Sonic the Hedgehog finally hit theaters it surprised everyone by becoming a box office hit, an audience favorite and even a modest success with the critics.
This adaptation is anchored by our hero, Sonic, a blue alien hedgehog that can run at supersonic speeds voiced by the hilarious and energetic Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation). Following a tragedy, a young Sonic makes his way to Earth via a portal created by special golden rings given to him by his guardian. Ten years after his arrival on Earth, Sonic has settled into a nice, yet lonely, life hidden away from others in a sleepy Montana town. Although he has never interacted with them, he has grown attached to the local sheriff, Tom (James Marsden), and his veterinarian wife, Maddie (Tika Sumpter). One night after succumbing to a particular bout of loneliness, Sonic inadvertently lets off a huge energy pulse that knocks out the power for hundred of miles and puts the government on his track.
As fans of the video game will know, the only person that could possibly be sent to hunt down Sonic is the nefarious Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), a mad scientist and inventor who is fed up with the world for being too idiotic for his taste. As Sonic tries to evade capture and make his way to a safer land, he heads to the only safe space he can think of to collect himself, the home of sheriff Tom. After a bumpy first interaction, Sonic and Tom join forces and go on a journey to usher Sonic to safety. The movie has a lot of fun playing with Sonic’s speed, resulting in many amusing visual gags, but it is his youthful energy and witty dialogue that provides a lot of the laughs in the movie. The scene-stealer, though, is the amazing Jim Carrey, who plays Robotnik with an unhinged lunacy that only Carrey can deliver. The amount of fun he was having with his performance really shines through and enhances the movie tenfold.
The great thing that Sonic the Hedgehog does is it embraces the source material with such love that audiences cannot help but be won over by it. The movie radiates joy, but it also has a lot of emotional moments that really tug at the heartstrings without being manipulative. While there are moments that will play better for the younger crowd, this is truly a movie that the entire family can enjoy. The script is tightly paced and fun; and the performers are all treating this as more than just a paycheck. The movie is an impressive technical feat from the believable CGI lead character to the visually interesting action sequences that pop up throughout the movie. There were understandably those who felt this was destined for failure, but this creative team has left me hoping for a sequel sooner rather than later.
Video Quality
Sonic the Hedgehog comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a 2160p/Dolby Vision presentation that looks as amazing as any modern movie should on the format. The film is filled with bright colors that pop off the screen from the blue of Sonic to the lush greenery of the Montana forests to the deep red of Dr. Robotnik’s signature suit. Detail and clarity are also amazingly strong with subtle details easily discernable in the background set design. Skin tones are nice and natural throughout with an incredible amount of detail. There is no visible blooming with the white levels and black levels are dark and deep. The range of color alone makes this one a nice disc to show off the format.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD disc comes with a lively Dolby Atmos presentation that handles the action well. The fast movement of Sonic is a lot of fun to hear throughout your surround speakers. Directionality of sound is never an issue with this track, and dialogue is reproduced with supreme clarity. All of the sounds are balanced well during the action sequences from explosions to the soaring score. The bus that Dr. Robotnik pulls up in on the baseball field provides a nice amount of activity in the low end. Speakers stay pretty active throughout the duration of the presentation and provide a nice, enveloping world to sink into. The audio presentation is just as impressive as the visual one.
Special Features
- Commentary by Director Jeff Fowler and the Voice of Sonic, Ben Schwartz: A very fun and information track that gives a lot of entertaining details and background information on the shoot. Ben does a phenomenal job of keeping the track lively and coaxing interesting anecdotes from Jeff.
- Around the World in 80 Seconds: An appropriately titled 2-D animated doodle short where Sonic visits various world landmarks in record time with his trademark wit. This is a fun addition to the movie.
- Deleted Scenes: There are five deleted or alternate scenes totaling 13-minute plus an introduction by director Jeff Fowler. These scenes, some with unfinished CGI, include new scenes with Crazy Carl, an alternate opening, expanded scenes and a fun wrap-up to Maddie’s sister (Natasha Rothwell) storyline. I appreciate that the filmmakers went with a darker origin for Sonic than what was presented here as an alternative.
- Bloopers: Two-minutes of bloopers are included here with the majority focusing on different line readings from Jim Carrey.
- “Speed Me Up” Music Video: The song from Wiz Khalifa feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Yachty and Sueco the Child is presented here featuring a mixture of movie footage, 16-bit footage and footage of all the performers.
- For the Love of Sonic: A four-minute love-fest for the character of Sonic where the cast and crew share some of their favorite memories of Sonic plus some Easter eggs from the film.
- Building Robotnik with Jim Carrey: Another four-minute love-fest, this time towards Jim Carrey. A good mixture of developing the character of Robotnik with cast members gushing over how much they love Jim.
- The Blue Blur – Origins of Sonic: A pretty neat six-minute feature that delves into the character of Sonic from his development, debut and legacy as the iconic character of SEGA.
- Sonic On Set: A three and a half minute look at what Ben Schwartz went through to capture and develop the character on film.
Final Thoughts
Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most entertaining video game adaptations to date. The movie is a nice blend of humor and heart that smartly cast Jim Carrey in a role where he could be classic Jim Carrey. The 4K UHD Blu-Ray offers a gorgeous video presentation along with immersive audio and entertaining special features. For those looking for a quick jolt of fun, this one is easy to recommend. Highly Recommended
Sonic the Hedgehog will be available to purchase on 4K UHD & Blu-Ray on May 19, 2020.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the disc.
Disclaimer: Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.