Fantasy film exceeds expectations with new design
By John Ancilotti
Famous video-game icon Sonic’s first live action movie was released over the weekend. The movie was projected to earn $40 million over the opening weekend; however, “Sonic the Hedgehog” directed by Jeff Fowler earned approximately $70 million over its first four days in theaters, winning the domestic box office. This is the biggest launch for a video-game movie.
Some speculate the movie would not have been as successful if it were not for the first trailer. The movie’s original reveal trailer caught the attention of the internet. Sonic’s adult man-body, beady eyes and human teeth upset many hardcore Sonic fans; even casual viewers were weirded out by the CGI monster.
After the reactions came in, Paramount Pictures listened to the public and began to work on redesigning the blue blur. After re-releasing the official trailer, the internet was pleased to see Sonic looking more like himself.
The movie’s original plot follows the adventure of Sonic the Hedgehog, voiced by Ben Schwartz, on Earth with sheriff of Green Hills Tom Wachowski, played by James Marsden.
After going too fast, the blue hedgehog causes an energy explosion that sweeps across the Pacific Northwest causing a power outage.
This catches the attention of the United States government. They task the classic video-game villain Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey, in finding the source of the power outage.
Robotnik uses his advanced technology to fight Sonic and chases him to Seattle and back to Green Hills where they have their final showdown. The final confrontation between the two is reminiscent of their fights in the Sonic the Hedgehog video-games.
MacKenzie Sakala, a freshman Spanish major, works at the local AMC Theatre.
“Customers said it’s good and it’s getting a lot of business. It sold out over the weekend and [Tuesday].”
The movie was originally set to be released in November 2019, however the redesign pushed it back three months. Shortly after completing the redesign, Moving Picture Company Vancouver shut down.
Throughout the movie there are multiple moments of unsubtle product placement. The movie mentions Olive Garden twice. Supporting character Tom Wachowski says the only apps on his phone are the preloaded ones and the Olive Garden app. He then quotes the slogan, “When you’re here, you’re family.”
In another scene, a laptop with Zillow’s website hogged the entire screen as Tom’s significant other excitedly talked about apartments she found through Zillow.
Olive Garden returns at the end of the movie when a government official gifts Tom with an Olive Garden gift card; he takes a moment to discuss how amazing the endless pasta bowl is.
The first segment of credits recap the movie in classic 32 bit Sonic visuals over the song Speed Me Up by Wiz Khalifa. After this is a mid-credits scene setting up a possible sequel.
Sonic’s iconic side-kick Tails the Fox appears on Earth through a portal. He checks a device tracking Sonic’s power signals and flies off towards Green Hills.
Whether this iteration of Tails already knows Sonic from their childhood, or how Tails knows about Sonic, is unclear.
The movie changed Sonic’s origin story and added a new character, the owl Longclaw, so Tails’ origin may be changed as well. The ending of the movie also teases that Robotnik will return.
The movie exceeded expectations in earnings as well as reviews. Critics are, as usual, being heavily critical about the movie and scoring it around the 60s. However fan reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
ancilljm19@bonaventure.edu
