Sonic the Hedgehog film review: You can slow your roll, Sega fans

Enlarge / High-speed blur effect? Check. Golden ring? Check. Oversized eyes? Check (thank goodness). But what about the rest of the first live-action Sonic the Hedgehog film? (credit: Sega / Paramount)

At least seven times during my screening of Sonic the Hedgehog, the first live-action film based on the classic Sega gaming franchise, I blurted to myself: "I can't believe they nearly kept the old design."

The nicest thing I can say about this week's new movie is that Sega and Paramount dodged a monumental disaster. This film's camera is in love with Sonic, the sole CGI-ified star. It constantly stares him down, lingers on his cartoon-bulging eyes, and allows the animation crew to sell his emotional state. Not that Sonic is a subtle character; actor Ben Schwarz (Parks & Recreation, the voice of Star Wars' BB-8) plays the titular role like a caffeinated 12-year-old, and it's fitting. But the film's heartwarming moments always include deep looks into Sonic's eyes. That could've been very, very different.

Now, audience members can rest assured that this serviceable, acceptable, not-amazing-but-not-terrible family film wasn't tanked by toothy, limber, squinty-eyed Sonic. With that crucial detail out of the way, the rest of the attached film isn't as sensational or headline-worthy. The series' first live-action film is neither a jolt to the pantheon of Sonic media nor a must-see video game adaptation. We've landed somewhere above The Angry Birds Movie, somewhere below Pokemon: Detective Pikachu.

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