Heartwarming / Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

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"Told you you got this."
"Hey, we got this."

Throughout all the laughs and action, Sonic the Hedgehog is also a surprisingly touching, heart-melting tale about loyalty and friendship.

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Trailers

• The text ”Every hero has a genesis” in the first trailer, which we all should know is a homage to the Sega Genesis.
• Near the beginning of the second trailer, we see a clip from the classic 16-bit game. It then zooms out and shows gameplay clips from tons of SEGA games. Not just Sonic ones like Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic Adventure, and Sonic Generations, but also classics such as Puyo Puyo, NiGHTS into Dreams…, Phantasy Star, and Super Monkey Ball. There’s also shots from less used games such as Skies of Arcadia, Sakura Wars, and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure, and even games by SEGA subsidiary ATLUS, like Persona 5.
• Sonic seems to have only met Tom for a short time, but when Robotnik threatens him to tell him where Sonic is, he immediately reveals himself. This truly is Sonic.
  Sonic: Wait! Don't hurt him.
  • Tom later returns the favour:
    Robotnik: Why would you throw your life away for this silly little alien?
    Tom: He's my friend.
    • Which is followed up with a shot of them high-fiving.
  • The fact that the filmmakers were seemingly conscious of the fact the Sonic isn't just a Mascot with Attitude, but a selfless being who would sacrifice himself to help others, much like how Sonic tried to save Pikachu in the intro to World of Light for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
• In a TV spot, Tom tells Sonic that he needs to learn how to control his super-speed. The next shot is a little girl handing Sonic the famous red and white sneakers. Sonic looking genuinely touched just sells it.
• Late in December 2019, a Japanese advertisement revealed Sonic as a little kid, looking just as cute as can be.
• Sonic seems extremely hyperactive around Tom for the most part, and not taking dire circumstances seriously. While this could be attributed to his canonical game self, the Fridge Brilliance kicks in. Sonic’s overly excited because he finally has somebody to talk to and have fun with, who isn't trying to steal his power. Make even sweeter when in the film proper, Tom is one of the people in Green Hill who stood out to Sonic and he admired long before their journey together.

Film

• The prologue showing a young Sonic going out of his way to use his speed out in the open. It may seem like a case of simple arrogance on his part, but there's also a reason behind it: he did it to pick a flower for his surrogate mother Longclaw. This shows he's got just as much heart as he does pride.
  • Sonic's second Establishing Character Moment as a teenager: saving a tortoise from an oncoming car and stating how tough it must be to be slow all the time. Sonic then says: "This is your lucky day!" Cut to Sonic carrying the tortoise as he runs just to feel the joy of speed — with a closeup of the tortoise's face we see him smiling. Just as Sonic praises the tortoise for "doing amazing" during this run, his grip slips and the tortoise is sent flying backwards, prompting Sonic to immediately go back to save it. One cut later and Sonic (now holding the tortoise in a safer grip) is seen patting its shell while praising the tortoise for its "good recovery". The sweetness of this moment is doubled when you remember Sonic's friendship with the other little animal buddies seen in the games. Doubles as a Funny Moment.
• Tom stopping traffic just to allow a duck and her ducklings to cross the street. And he's named all of them.
• Tom and Maddie's relationship as a whole is very sweet. The two clearly trust each other and are willing to hear the other person out before jumping to any conclusions.
  • When Tom gets his job, he wants to make sure she is okay with what is sure to be a big change. Maddie points out that when she was in vet school, Tom worked three jobs in order to make ends meet and pay her tuition, and that she'd be more than happy to return the favor, in a manner of speaking.
  • It's revealed that since Maddie couldn't find out if Tom had been accepted into the SFPD, she bought two cakes to celebrate with - one if he was and one if he wasn't. It shows how she really wanted to make sure to support him either way.
• At the end of the day, Tom and Maddie have no real reason to help Sonic. But they both do anyway, pretty much solely because it's the right thing to do. They're good people, something Sonic had picked up on.
• Sonic having a great time at the bar, just to get his bucket list all checked in before he leaves Earth, is charming.
  • One of the things listed on Sonic's bucket list? "Make a real friend".
  • Also, when Sonic is in Bullet Time and sees that Tom is about to be on the receiving end of a rather nasty knuckle sandwich, he makes sure to push Tom out of the way and to safety.
• Tom tucking Sonic in after he falls asleep at the motel. Sonic looks just like a kid who had a great day at Disneyland.
• Jojo's relationship with "Uncle Tommy", which implies either A: Rachel doesn't let Jojo know how much she dislikes her brother-in-law and lets Tom hang out with her daughter, or B: Jojo just doesn't care and loves Tom anyway.
• Jojo gifts Sonic a fresh pair of shoes and socks after seeing his current ones are worn out, so he "won't hurt [his] feet anymore". Sonic admits that he's never gotten a gift before and is genuinely touched. It's the familiar red sneakers Sonic has always worn in all media.
• We see Sonic talking to someone who is said to be Tom's best friend. The next shot reveals said best friend to be his golden retriever, who starts licking Sonic.
  Sonic: (laughing) That is very gross!
• Sonic finally gets his rings back, and he and Tom share a fond moment saying their goodbyes. Tom is clearly going to miss Sonic, and Sonic admits that the last two days traveling with each other were the best of his life.
  Sonic: Just one more thing. I'm sorry I was so hard on you. I know it's a tough decision for you to leave Green Hills. Walking away from something you care about... has to be painful.
  Tom: You're not sure you really wanna go, huh?
  Sonic: I don't wanna go. But I can't stay. As long as I'm here, I put everyone in danger. I can't do that. I just want you to know that these last two days... [smiles] have been the best two days of my life.
  Tom: [smiles] I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually gonna miss you, you blue devil.
  Sonic: I'll miss you too, Donut Lord. Thank you.
  Tom: ...For what?
  Sonic: For saving my life.
  • Maddie is shown to be very touched by their interactions.
    Maddie: You two... are SO cute.
    Tom/Sonic: What?! No, we're not!
• The entire town of Green Hills standing against Robotnik to protect Tom and Maddie. Tom finally realizes that, as Sonic told him previously, he's A Hero to His Hometown; whenever's there's trouble, the local sheriff is the first person everyone calls for help, and while he might feel like a glorified babysitter sometimes, Tom still is caring and competent, so the whole town is more than willing to risk life and limb when he's the one needing help.
  Wade: That's our sheriff you're messing with! (brandishing service revolver)
  Crazy Carl: And our Blue Devil, who as everyone can see is a very real creature, and not at all invented by me! (brandishing chainsaw)
  • Crazy Carl also doesn't want Robotnik to mess with "our Blue Devil". Even before Tom and Maddie formally take Sonic in, someone in Green Hills already considered Sonic to be a part of the town.
  • It's also rather endearing how, despite Crazy Carl and Sonic always having had an Elmer Fudd/Bugs Bunny sort of relationship for nearly a decade, Crazy Carl is ready to defend Sonic when his life is on the line. With a chainsaw, no less.
• Tom was very frustrated with his situation throughout the movie, and at one point refuses to call Sonic his friend. Then, during Sonic's Disney Death at the climax, he goes into Tranquil Fury and starts fighting Robotnik himself to protect Sonic. When Robotnik incredulously asks why, Tom says it's because Sonic's his friend.
  • Also, while Tom earlier didn't seem to like Sonic's nickname for him of "Donut Lord", he uses it for himself during the fight.
    Dr. Robotnik: Who the hell do you think you are?
    Tom: I'm the Donut Lord, you son of a b--!
• This line from Sonic, which doubles as Moment of Awesome.
  Sonic: This is my power, and I'm not using it to run away anymore. I'm using it to protect. My. Friends!
• In the film proper, Sonic finally getting himself a high five with Tom, who finally acknowledges him as his friend, is pretty touching given how the former had no friends to do this with at the beginning. His hyperactive reaction to it beforehand is what sells it, along with his gazing at his hand in wonder after it.
  • After Robotnik's defeat right before this:
    Tom: Told you you got this!
    Sonic: Hey — we got this.
  • After Sonic defeats Robotnik, the whole community cheers and applauds for Sonic, further confirming that they all consider Sonic as part of the town.
• Tom and Maddie creating a space in their attic for Sonic to stay — having found his cave and moved ALL of his stuff up there to make an adorable bedroom of his own, including a racecar bed and string lights. When Sonic sees it for the first time and voices his appreciation, it sounds like he's about to cry.
  Maddie: Well... welcome home.
  Sonic: Thank you. So much.
  • Maddie also says that Sonic can't stay up because it’s a school night. This not only solidifies her role as “mother” but also it’s implied they put him into school, where he can make more friends who are his age.
• There's something worth saying about Dr. Robotnik's relationship with his assistant Agent Stone. For all the disdain Robotnik has for other human beings, he likes the way Stone makes his lattes, and when Robotnik is trapped on the Mushroom Planet, he carves Stone's likeness out of a rock showing he truly did miss Stone deep down.
• In the after-credits scene, a Ring Portal opens up and Tails leaps out, he's been tracking Sonic for an unknown amount of time, and immediately flies off to help Sonic. It looks like Sonic may be about to make more friends than just the ones on Earth.

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