The first trailer for the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie was released and it’s…interesting. It looks like the worst and best idea for a video game movie. Currently, the trailer has an astonishing 3.5 million views with 83 thousand likes and 107 thousand dislikes. So it’s not going well.
Let’s break it down.
1. Sonic is Set in Our World – Worst
One of the best thing about the Sonic games is the colorful psychedelic world the game takes place in. For this movie, they put Sonic and the other characters in our world. At least a world where talking hedgehogs and robots exist. Stages like the tropical Green Hill Zone look nothing like our world with green fields, blue lakes, palm trees, and iconic checkered soil. The movie, apparently, ditches the idea. I guess they’re hoping not to turn people off from a 30-year-old game. But it does have a nice nod in that the town is named Green Hill.
Sonic the Hedgehog is a franchise of video games released by Sega starring their mascot character. The game series began in 1991 on the 16-bit Sega Genesis (also known as Mega Drive overseas) video game system. Sonic single-handedly turned the fledgling video game company Sega into an industry leader of innovative games in the 16-bit era. The movie’s been in the works since 2013 when Sony Pictures bought the film rights and announced a movie in 2014. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for Sony the studio sold the film rights to paramount in 2017.
2. Speed – Best
Speed is one of the hallmarks of the game. Sometimes it moves so fast you can barely make out what’s happening. The trailer opens with a dizzyingly fast run through a forest and really sells the idea that Sonic can hit Mach 4. The video game would send players through loops, slides, and tunnels at breakneck speed. Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) clocks Sonic running at 760 MPH.
3. Gangsta’s Paradise – Worst
Sonic puts an audiotape into a boombox and starts playing Coolio’s 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise”. The whole movie has a 90s vibe which is probably intentional to explain Sonic’s outdated (but cool for 1995) look.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of songs they could have saddled this movie with. “Gangsta’s Paradise” just feels like a desperate attempt by the filmmakers to look cool.
4. James Marsden – Worst
James Marsden is a tricky actor. When he’s good he’s very good. When he’s not he’s just OK. one of the reasons he worked as Cyclops in the X-Men films is he was supposed to be a generic good guy. It worked.
It’s hard to tell how the movie will be but in the trailer, he has to act against an animated hedgehog and it…kind of works. But mostly doesn’t. His comic timing is strange and I just don’t get why he’s in the movie.
5. The Energy Surge – Best
When Sonic takes off running his fur generates a massive energy surge that blows out the powers in the United States. It’s very impressive and one of my favorite moments in the trailer.
The movie is an American–Japanese joint venture. It’s co-produced and financed by Paramount Pictures, with Neal Moritz serving as a producer as well through his Original Film banner. This type of visual is straight our of anime, so the Japanese influence helps.
6. Jim Carrey – Best
The military calls in a guy they obviously hate to contact. As a black van rolls in Carrey steps out and immediately mocks the Major of the army.
The movie is literally saved by Jim Carrey. He channels several old characters to make Dr. Ivo Robotnik aka Eggman immediately entertaining. He carries himself with the swagger of Ace Ventura and physical presence of Fire Marshall Bill. It’s clear that Carrey is embracing the absurdity of the character and bringing his A-Game.
Jim Carrey hasn’t done a big budget movie since 2014’s Dumb and Dumber To. He’s mainly been in indie projects like the black-comedy thriller The Bad Batch (2016), Dark Crimes, and Showtime’s Kidding. He could literally save this movie from box office disaster.
7. Sonic’s Mouth – Worst
Sonic looks really strange. From the 3D quills on it’s back to emulate the spiky look from the game to the really long legs. But the strangest thing is the mouth. In one scene he and James Marsden take turns yelling in a “hilarious” scene. But Sonic’s mouth is just weird. I’m not sure how a human-sized blue hedgehog’s teeth are supposed to look but this ain’t it. It’s even stranger when you think who’s doing the animation.
Tim Miller, from Deadpool fame, also serves as executive producer under his visual effects, animation and design company Blur Studio, and Sega’s Marza Animation Planet unit assists with the animation. In 2004, Blur was nominated for its an Academy Award for its original short film, Gopher Broke. An Oscar-nominated effects shop should do better.
8. Corny Jokes – Worst
The movie is lifting jokes from Roadrunner cartoons and it doesn’t feel right. There’s one terrible joke where Dr. Robotnik launches an army of missiles at Sonic. Since he’s so fast they’re moving in slow motion and he takes a minute to check his step counter.
9. Dr. Eggman – Best
When we first meet Dr. Robotnik he doesn’t look much like the game character. But then, in a shot from the end, we get him in all his glory. Bald, goggles and a huge mustache. It’s pretty cool and the visual sells the movie. Let’s hope it all lines up.
What do you think of the first Sonic trailer? Let us know in the comments below!
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