Seriously, this is literally the only reason I saw the movie. We were in theaters and I recognized his voice in the trailer as the bad hedgehog character and told my sister we have to see it. I also did research and read reviews which praised Reeves’ character Shadow as the best thing in the movie, which he was, but we’ll get into that. Anyway, I convinced Jubilee to see a late showing with me since we had free tickets and we went with our brother. The film was absolute nonsense but I was entertained…some of the time. Honestly, the first Sonic movie was better and I didn’t even like it that much. This movie just had more going on and it had Shadow. That’s about it, but let’s break that down further. 

Too Much Comedy: I wasn’t crazy about the first Sonic film. I found the humor to be somewhat juvenile and predictable. The plot was simplistic, but not terrible, and thankfully Jim Carrey didn’t get as much time to steal the screen. He was kept in check and his dialogue was at times clever and funny because it was underplayed (at least compared to this film). Now, I know it’s a family franchise based on a video game for children, but I still insist children can grasp humor beyond the mediocre. I didn’t even bother seeing Sonic 2, but one of my brothers did; and apparently, I didn’t miss anything.  

-This film way overdid the jokes, particularly with Jim Carrey playing two roles of basically the same character. If he had to be both Ivo Robotnik and his grandfather, then just give them less ridiculous scenes. We didn’t need a montage of them spending time together, another of them dancing through lasers, and yet another extended comical fight scene between the two of them at the end. The movie could have given me 50% less Jim Carrey and been better off. 

-I also found Sonic more annoying in this film with his super predictable and repetitive Disney channel dialogue where you state the obvious multiple times until it’s supposed to be funny. I understand this movie had an age group, but I think children are smarter than we give them credit for and we don’t always have to use such juvenile comedy.

-Literally, one scene felt straight out of K.C. Undercover (and I like the show, for what it is) with its over the top attempt at humor when Tom and Maddie sneak into G.U.N. 's headquarters. They have some kind of holographic disguise and all Maddie needs to do is get angry enough at security to get past without any proof of identification. I know this is a family action comedy—but come on. G.U.N. must be pretty inept.  

Things that didn’t make sense in the plot or fell short because they didn’t stay true enough to the source material: 

1. Commander Walters gives Sonic, of all people, one of the key cards to protect. This didn’t make sense for a few reasons. Why give it to Sonic and not Director Rockwell? We see later she is successfully protecting the other key and has no nefarious plans with either. Sonic is unable to steal the key, due to the security measures in place, and so are the Robotnik’s. The key doesn’t appear to be in any danger. In fact, I would argue, the only reason the other key is taken from G.U.N. headquarters is because of Team Sonic’s blunders. Knuckles breaks the barrier/forcefield protecting G.U.N. headquarters, allowing Shadow to enter and take the key from Tom. Also, why not just destroy the key instead of protecting it, since the one is useless without the other? 

2. Gerald Robotnik is supposedly both Ivo’s grandfather and Maria’s, but we get no further explanation into the family line. Why does Gerald only care about his one granddaughter? What happened to Maria’s parents and Ivo’s parents? Ivo and Maria would be cousins and their parents siblings. This is apparently true to the games and perhaps not investigated further because the game doesn’t have an answer. 

3. In the game, Maria is dying of an incurable illness and that is why Gerald Robotnik creates Project Shadow. This should have been kept in the film as it explains a lot (it’s possible they didn’t because it would’ve been considered too dark). In the movie, Maria spends a great deal of time around Shadow and we don’t really see anyone inhibiting them, even though she is essentially playing with a billion dollar government weapon. In the game this makes sense because Gerald created Shadow for Maria. Shadow is not only a superweapon but he’s supposed to hold the key to immortality: a way to cure Maria. Gerald would then naturally want Shadow to form a bond with her and have a desire to protect and save her.

4.  The way Maria dies also feels forced. A random explosion set off by a random bullet, which anyone in the military would know NOT to shoot around explosive materials, kills only her. For some reason, Shadow couldn’t use his powers to save her. In the game, Maria gets Shadow to a safety pod and he is already locked in when she is shot accidentally by a soldier attempting to prevent their escape. I don’t remember if why they’re running in the movie is made clear, but in the game it’s because the military changed their minds and wants to destroy Shadow because he’s too powerful to be kept alive. In the film, not only do they take him alive (which isn’t explained how they’re able to), but they lock him up instead of destroying him.   

5. I wasn’t sure if Ivo Robotnik’s death was supposed to come off as self-sacrificing and sympathetic because I didn’t see it that way. He doesn’t want earth to be destroyed. Okay? Neither does Slade in Teen Titans, but that doesn’t make him a hero. Robotnik technically helps steer the Eclipse cannon away from earth so the planet doesn’t get destroyed and then he dies because the core self-destructs. His intentions were selfish, not heroic. Even Wikipedia says he only does it because he wants to rule earth, not see it destroyed. So, I didn’t feel bad for him. Not sure if I was supposed to.  

Shadow—The Adorable Black Hedgehog: Shadow’s character was the best one in the movie. He had drama, depth, a backstory, a goal, and sympathy on his side, but he was still incomplete. In the beginning of the movie, he’s released from a perpetual state of sleep and wants revenge against a world that took Maria from him; but, for most of the film, he doesn’t get to do much except wait around while the Robotnik’s engage in crazy family hijinks. When he was on screen, he stole the show. Reeves’ voice fit the character perfectly. With the roles he’s been playing, it felt like John Wick was reincarnated as Shadow the hedgehog. Kudos as well to the CGI people for the high quality expressions on Shadow’s face. Shadow’s deadpan reaction to circumstances actually made them funnier than they were. He was loveable. Maybe that’s why they kept him off so much. 

-Sidenote: I waited months to purchase a Shadow plush after seeing the film because they were all sold out. He was indeed the most popular thing in the movie and they should have used him more. 

Overall, the film isn’t harmful to children or offensive. I get why the film is eye-catching with a world of cute, talking, super-powered hedgehogs. It’s a world full of potential and definitely makes you feel like you’re watching a nostalgic breed of children’s cartoon. I never grew up on Sonic and only recently saw a few episodes of the original cartoon. It’s not my thing. It’s too repetitive and doesn’t go anywhere. I would also argue it doesn’t teach children a whole lot. Some episodes did, but not many. I believe we can make Saturday morning cartoons but also include a little something deeper and thought provoking for children. They’re smarter than we give them credit for. However, I understand why children enjoy it and would want to be Sonic.