Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
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The story
Sonic, a young anthropomorphic blue hedgehog with the ability to run at supersonic speeds, has lived in hiding for years after being separated from his guardian. When his presence on Earth is detected by the U.S. Department of Defense, it draws the attention of the brilliant but mad scientist Dr. Robotnik. To protect his secret and his safety, Sonic must navigate a burgeoning relationship with a local sheriff, Tom Wachowski. As Robotnik's drones begin to track Sonic's movements, the duo must work together to evade the villain's pursuit and prevent him from harnessing Sonic's unique power.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being sent to Earth by his guardian Longclaw to stay safe from an echidna tribe, Sonic lives in hiding in Montana. His life is disrupted when his high-speed movements cause a massive power outage, alerting the government and the villainous Dr. Robotnik. Sonic meets Sheriff Tom Wachowski, who initially captures him but eventually becomes his ally. The two flee to San Francisco to escape Robotnik's drones. During their journey, they bond over Sonic's desire for friendship. Robotnik becomes obsessed with Sonic's quills, which hold immense power. In a final confrontation in San Francisco, Tom and his wife Maddie help Sonic fight off Robotnik's forces. Sonic eventually defeats Robotnik, sending him to a remote mushroom planet. The film ends with Tom and Maddie deciding to let Sonic stay with them in Green Hills, while a two-tailed fox named Tails emerges from a portal to find him.
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 99
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jeff Fowler
- Writers
- Pat Casey · writer; Josh Miller · writer
- Cast and characters
- James Marsden · Tom Wachowski; Ben Schwartz · Sonic the Hedgehog; Tika Sumpter · Maddie Wachowski; Natasha Rothwell · Rachel; Adam Pally · Wade Whipple; Neal McDonough · Major Bennington; Jim Carrey · Dr. Robotnik
- Genres
- action-adventure; comedy
- Themes
- friendship; belonging
- Tone and mood
- action-comedy; lighthearted
- Setting
- Green Hills, Montana; San Francisco, California; and a mushroom planet.
- Premise and plot tags
- video game adaptation; superhero; buddy comedy
- Source material / true-story basis
- Sonic video game series
- Franchise connections
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the redesign and performances but criticized the story. It was a commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing video game film adaptation in North America.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 64% · scale: percentage · review count: 252; Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 42; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 4 · scale: 5 · review count: 66% of viewers
- Production trivia
- The film was delayed to accommodate a redesign of Sonic's appearance.; The original design, known as 'Ugly Sonic', appeared in Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers.; The film's production used the 'buddy comedy' approach.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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