Film Name: 刺猬索尼克 / Sonic the Hedgehog
A person arriving in a foreign world feels profoundly alone. To integrate into this world, it must not only draw strength from the kind-hearted souls who accept it, but more importantly, it must understand what it can do for this world and for those people.
Clearly, Sonic possesses the ability to run at incredible speeds and unleash boundless electrical power—qualities that could easily make him a hero. Yet, his desire to contribute to this world and to his friends remains unclear, which is precisely why Sonic still feels far from being a true hero.
In the film, Sonic, despite his formidable abilities, remains essentially a child. What defines a child? It’s a state of absorbing much while giving little in return. Sonic is a somewhat lonely, playful child—traits emphasized in the film that are insufficient to sustain him as a true hero.
The protagonist finds himself in danger because of Sonic, yet Sonic seems to take it all for granted. He breaks promises to go bar-hopping, only to stir up more trouble. When crisis strikes, he shows up at the protagonist’s home; when faced with difficulties, he demands the protagonist take him to another city. He makes one request after another, yet rarely considers the protagonist or others proactively. So while the bond between the protagonist and Sonic appears deep by the end, it feels more like a one-sided human-pet affection rather than the friendship Sonic believes it to be.
For films about otherworldly beings on Earth, the most crucial element is depicting the process of forming emotional bonds with humans. Clearly, this film focused more on flashy gimmicks like running, electric blasts, and the villain’s perversity, while the narrative on Sonic’s emotional connection with humans was pitifully sparse. While Sonic’s wish-list entry—”I want a friend”—seems touching, his male friend feels like a gift from heaven. He’s a perpetually kind soul who treats everyone well, and Sonic doesn’t actively strive for this friendship.
A particularly crucial scene occurs when a little girl, seeing Sonic’s tattered shoes, gives him her own red-and-white striped pair. This presents a golden opportunity for Sonic to build emotional bonds with humans, yet the film glosses over it. Sonic doesn’t even utter a simple “thank you.” Shouldn’t he have done something for this girl, if only to repay her for the shoes?
This is precisely why the film fails to deliver a truly moving conclusion. We expect a child to grow into a hero quickly, at the very least ensuring their contributions match what they receive. Otherwise, if they never encounter another kind soul like the protagonist, they might genuinely struggle to make friends in the future.
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