ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Review: Sonic the Hedgehog redesign didn’t really pay off (Spoilers)

Feb 22, 2020, 3:59 PM | Updated: 4:41 pm

Review: Sonic the Hedgehog redesign didn't really pay off (Spoilers)...

This is an editorial piece. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom. 

SALT LAKE CITY — In May of 2019, a Sonic the Hedgehog redesign was announced after an overwhelming amount of criticism from fans. Why? The design in the trailers did not resemble the beloved video game character. Though many may have been surprised by this announcement, it may have just given false hope for a film that would prove to be mediocre at best.

Hollywood has always struggled with adapting video games to the big screen

I remember as a child having played the original Super Mario Bros. on my Nintendo Entertainment System. On many occasions my friends, family and I would spend hours playing it. So imagine our surprise when we heard that a Super Mario Bros. movie was about to be released. In a kind gesture, my father offered to take us to the film. My nine-year-old self was so excited I could hardly wait, but when we saw it we could instantly tell that it was just a cash grab attempt made to try and capitalize on all of the Nintendo hype of the time.

They had missed the mark by a long shot. Yes there were two Italian characters and a bad guy named Bowser but nothing else had any resemblance to what we had experienced in the game.

The Hollywood machine has attempted  multiple times since to turn video game success into a box office hit. On every occasion, they’ve failed to produce a story that was satisfying to gamers and non-gamers alike.

What did this Sonic the Hedgehog film get wrong?

Like in the Super Mario Bros. film, there are very few elements that connect the film to the game in terms of theme and story. There is  a blue hedgehog named Sonic, and his enemy is Dr. Robotnik, and that is about it.

Sonic the Hedgehog does not have electric powers, ever, in any of the video games that were made about him and his rings never were teleportation devices. His power, as far as I can remember, never really was a “power” in the sense of super hero powers; he could always just run faster than everyone. It is just a part of who he is as a character.

The connections to the video game aren’t the only issue with Sonic the Hedgehog the movie. This film suffers from weak plot points, bad jokes, mediocre acting and setups with no payoff. A prime example is that Neal McDonough’s appearance as a soldier for about two minutes in the film has no purpose at all.

Something this film got right was the redesigning of Sonic himself. He looked much more like the character we have all grown to love, and without that redesign I doubt that anyone would have gone to see it.

Things Sonic the Hedgehog fans might enjoy

There were a few moments that a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog can appreciate and enjoy. Some were in the form of subtle Easter eggs that only a fan of the game would catch.

For example: the name of the town is Green Hills. For those who have played the game, the first three levels of Sonic the Hedgehog take place in Green Hill Zone. Also, at the end of the movie they have turned the energetic Green Hill Zone theme song into an endearing background melody as they are painting their house.

Other fun connections to the video game were when Sonic gets his new shoes, when Dr. Robotnik actually looks like Dr. Robotnik, and the appearance of Tails at the end.

Though this film may not please fans of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and holds no weight in the category of good storytelling, its Rotten Tomatoes audience score as of today’s date (February 22, 2020) sits at 94%.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Arts + Entertainment

Flags fly in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (Spenser Heaps/Deseret News)...

Tammy Kikuchi

SLC organization to host Pride Festival at the end of June

SLC Pride will host Pride Festival at The Gateway at the end of June. The event director said their main goal is to ensure that everyone feels welcome. 

7 hours ago

FILE - The TikTok app logo appears in Tokyo, on Sept. 28, 2020. US lawmakers are concerned about Be...

Laura He, CNN

Analysis: Is TikTok really Chinese?

U.S. lawmakers say they worry TikTok could share data with the Chinese government, what is the evidence that supports these concerns?

9 hours ago

Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers blocks a shot during the second half of a game against Ohio St...

Issy Ronald, CNN

March Madness: Here are the top seeds for the men’s NCAA basketball tournament

The top four seeds are the Connecticut Huskies, Purdue Boilermakers, North Carolina Tar Heels and Houston Cougars.

1 day ago

An array of hats decorated for St. Patrick's Day is displayed at a park in New Orleans during an Ir...

KEVIN McGILL Associated Press

When it’s St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans, get ready to catch a cabbage

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The grandly colonnaded old city hall was designed by an Irish architect. A neighborhood near the wharves is still known as the Irish Channel. Landmark towers and spires of Catholic churches built for Irish immigrants dot the skyline. New Orleans is well known for a culture that evolved from early French […]

2 days ago

An aerial view of a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, on March 15 ...

Cheri Mossburg and Alli Rosenbloom, CNN

Cara Delevingne’s Los Angeles home destroyed in fire: ‘My heart is broken today’

A house fire devoured the Los Angeles-area home of actress and model Cara Delevingne early Friday morning, leaving two people injured.

3 days ago

One Life might be the newest Schindler's List....

Steve Salles

KSL Movie Show review: ‘One Life’ might just be the British version of Schindler

"Arthur the King" is a deeply inspiring story, sprinkled with a handful of cheese, but nonetheless, entertaining and emotionally tortuous.

3 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Review: Sonic the Hedgehog redesign didn’t really pay off (Spoilers)