Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Let's be honest: when those first official images of Sonic surfaced online, it was one of the most alarming things I'd seen in a cinema preview in years. Those teeth. Those unsettling human-ish eyes. The strange, elongated limbs. I remember thinking there was absolutely no coming back from that, that the whole project was doomed before it had even found its footing. So credit where it's due, because Paramount actually did something almost unheard of in Hollywood: they listened. They delayed the film, went back to the drawing board, and fixed him. And thank god for that, because what we ended up with is genuinely brilliant.
Jeff Fowler's 2020 adaptation is a surprisingly cracking piece of family entertainment, and so much of that rests on getting Sonic himself right. The visual effects team deserve enormous praise for the redesign. The final version of the character perfectly captures the energy, the cheek, and the cocky charm we all remember from the Sega Mega Drive days. He looks like Sonic. He moves like Sonic. He feels like Sonic. That might sound like a low bar, but given where things started, it's nothing short of a minor miracle.
Once you move past the visuals, the film holds up really well on its own terms. It's genuinely funny, not in the strained, desperate way a lot of family comedies can be, but in a loose and breezy way that keeps the whole thing rattling along nicely. The action sequences are exciting too, particularly anything that leans into Sonic's speed, and Fowler finds a good balance between the high-octane set pieces and the quieter, warmer emotional moments. It never outstays its welcome, and it never takes itself too seriously.
The absolute standout, though, is Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Eggman. This is Carrey returning to his peak, rubber-faced, scene-chewing form, and it is an absolute joy to watch. He relishes every single second of it. Every twitch, every manic monologue, every ridiculous physical gag. It's the kind of performance that reminds you how genuinely extraordinary he was at the height of his powers, and the film is all the better for giving him the room to run wild with it. Inspired casting from top to bottom.
My only real gripe is a minor one: I really wish they'd just committed to calling him Dr. Robotnik, as he's known in the original games. I understand the logic of going with Eggman for broader, more modern audiences, and the film does at least acknowledge the Robotnik name, but it still stings a little for anyone who grew up with the source material. A small quibble in the grand scheme of things, but it nagged at me.
Because make no mistake, Fowler and the team clearly have a genuine love for what they're working with here. The speed, the attitude, the ring-collecting chaos, the sense of cheeky rebellion that always defined the character. All of it translates to the screen without losing the warmth at the heart of the story. This is a film that respects where it came from, and that respect shows in every frame.
Video game adaptations have had a rough time of it historically, and there's been no shortage of misfires over the years. Sonic the Hedgehog proves that it doesn't have to be that way. Get the character right, cast brilliantly, keep the tone light and the pacing sharp, and you've got yourself a proper crowd-pleaser. This is a roaring success and a thoroughly enjoyable start to what I hope turns out to be a long and healthy franchise.
Three and a half stars.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 2020 | Watched: 2026-07-01
Where to watch
Watch in the UK
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Watch in the US
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