Parent Review: Is Sonic the Hedgehog Kid-Friendly?

The Sonic the Hedgehog film has had a bumpy road and was pulled for a 5 month long redo after fans were outraged over Sonic’s look. And finally this Friday, February 14, 2020, Sonic is ready to be your Valentine! But is he appropriate to be your kids Valentine? Read on to find out if Sonic the Hedgehog is kid-friendly!

Sonic the Hedgehog animated character running to the theaters but is it kid-friendly? — Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

I will admit that I wasn’t one of those crazy Sonic fans in my younger days, but I obviously knew the character and played the games. And my older kids played Sonic the Hedgehog games on the GameCube in the early 2000s while my youngest has watched the cartoons, read the comics and played the games. Not to mention I was part of the very first audience to see the revamped trailer while on the Paramount Studio lot.

So to say we were excited to see Sonic the Hedgehog in theaters is a slight understatement. Luckily, we got to attend an advanced screening!

How long is Sonic the Hedgehog?

Sonic’s run time is an hour and 40 minutes. Which is ideal for a family movie. Long enough to tell the story, but not too long that the kids start getting antsy and loud.

Are there swear words in the movie?

What is considered a cursie to some may not be to others but with that said Sonic the Hedgehog is very tame with the language. I heard one “hell” and at one point a character is about to let a cursie go but is cut off before he can. So, an implied cursie, I guess. And you’ll hear a few OMGs and Thank Gods throughout the film.

Now, there is quite a bit of potty humor, so if fart jokes or the like are a no go for your kids, you’ll want to skip this one.

Is there violence in Sonic?

Well, Sonic and his BFF, Tom, are battling the evil Dr. Robotnik, so there is some “violence”. But we’re not talking blood and guts Deadpool violence.

There are fight scenes, one is in a bar which is more comical than anything but punches are thrown.

Things and characters are blown up, shot at, lasers are used – Dr. Robotnik is intent on getting Sonic. He is willing to take him dead or alive as long as he gets him. And Sonic and Tom are doing whatever they have to do to stay alive.

Sonic the Hedgehog movie poster that leads to a post that answers the question Is Sonic kid-friendly?

Does Sonic the Hedgehog have adult or sensitive content?

As mentioned above – there is a bar scene with people drinking.

Honestly, I don’t remember but you might see a kiss between Tom and his wife. But nothing that warrants a hand over the younger eyes worthy.

There is an implied death at the beginning but you don’t actually see it. But as always be prepared if taking someone who has a sensitivity to death.

Jim Carrey in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Doane Gregory.

So, is Sonic the Hedgehog kid-friendly?

Yes, without a doubt Sonic is kid-friendly. But I wouldn’t necessarily recommend taking the entire family if you have kids under 4.

Our audience was filled with kids of all ages and while most did amazing, those younger ones around us didn’t do too well. Now, that could be because they aren’t used to attending movies or it was an off day. But unless your toddler is a huge Sonic fan or is a “seasoned” moviegoer – you might want to wait until it’s out on video.

But honestly, Sonic the Hedgehog is a fun, entertaining family film.

My review

I’ll admit – I was surprised… By how much I enjoyed Sonic the Hedgehog! The storyline is fantastic and creates a solid base for more Sonic films.

Not a Jim Carrey fan but he was a good as Dr. Robotnik. My only criticism is that his “evil” facial expressions are so well-known and dare I say, overused that at times I was picturing other villains. Ahem – Count Olaf from Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and Stanley Ipkiss from The Mask.

And Sonic was so well done. I’m thankful fans didn’t hold back when the original trailer dropped and that Paramount Studios cared enough to do a complete overhaul of Sonic’s look. That one detail will payoff at the box office for the studio and for fans.

I enjoyed the small tidbits they added from the video games, comics and show. It showed a complete Sonic the Hedgehog character and introduces him to a new generation while honoring the past.

But the standout character for me was Rachel who was played by Natasha Rothwell. She is absolutely hilarious in the movie.

And yes, there is an end credit scene. And it was my favorite moment at the screening. The overwhelming approval from our audience was probably heard the next town over!

So GO. Get your tickets for the weekend and celebrate the day of love with Sonic the Hedgehog! And then come back and tell me what you think because I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

Tika Sumpter, James Marsden, and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

About Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic tries to navigate the complexities of life on Earth with his newfound best friend — a human named Tom Wachowski. They must soon join forces to prevent the evil Dr. Robotnik from capturing Sonic and using his powers for world domination.

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