SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
The fast and the furriest…
The ’hog rushes our screens after his VFX stumble...
Aspeed demon he may be, but Sonic has had a laboured journey to cinemas. Delayed after the character’s initial design met with revulsion, early signs were not promising. But the tireless work of VFX artists has not been in vain. Sonic won’t trouble any best-of-year lists, but it exceeds the low expectations it started with.
Raised on an alien planet, Sonic’s abilities are unique among his species. When discovered, the blue blur (voiced by Ben Schwartz) teleports to Montana, where cop Tom (James Marsden) dreams of a meaningful assignment. He gets one when Sonic causes a blackout, prompting the government to bring in their top tech man: sociopathic genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey).
Predictably, the script rarely rises above functional. But while Detective Pikachu had one eye on middle-aged audiences, Sonic aims younger, emulating the colourful nature of its ’hog. The appeal for older viewers is
CERTIFICATE PG DIRECTOR Jeff Fowler STARRING Ben Schwartz (voice), Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter SCREENPLAY Patrick Casey, Josh Miller DISTRIBUTOR Paramount RUNNING TIME 99 mins
nostalgia, especially when it comes to Jim Carrey, whose performance is like the missing link between Ace Ventura and The Mask. If you can sanction his boundless buffoonery, he’s a scenestealing treat.
For a film that could have coasted on farts and flossin’, there are flashes of creativity. A bar fight features a familyfriendly spin on the Quicksilver scene in X-Men: Days Of Future Past, while Dr Robotnik’s murder-bots are effectively deployed in a chase sequence.
Ending with two mid-credits scenes that confirm sequel intentions, Sonic should have fans doing loop-the-loops. Casual viewers’ hearts might not race – but on the basis of this better-thanexpected first instalment, further fast times wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. Jordan Farley
THE VERDICT
A relic of the ’90s, Sonic offers frenetic fun for kids, and in Carrey an enjoyable shot of nostalgia for adults.