Movie review
February 12, 2020 · 99 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) is a family action-comedy in which a super-fast blue hedgehog from another world hides out in rural Montana, accidentally draws government attention, and teams up with a local sheriff to stop a rogue scientist from using his powers for global domination. The story centers on friendship, found family, and classic hero-vs-villain adventure delivered through speed gags, road-trip set pieces, and Jim Carrey’s eccentric performance. No identity politics, activist dialogue, girlboss dynamics, or modern social-justice framing appear in the narrative, casting emphasis, or marketing.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Sonic the Hedgehog.
Woke representation / casting
Interracial marriage and diverse small-town ensemble are audience-visible but integrated as natural contemporary American family elements without emphasis, signaling, quotas, or mismatch to the story world.
Woke political dialogue
Complete absence of political, activist, or ideological dialogue.
Identity-driven story themes
Friendship, belonging, and stopping a power-hungry villain form the engine; Sonic’s alien-refugee premise functions purely as sci-fi plot device with no identity-politics framing.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Rogue government scientist abusing drone technology for domination supplies standard anti-tyranny adventure conflict without reframing into modern activist critiques of institutions, capitalism, or identity structures.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. The sole major alteration was a fan-driven visual redesign for game accuracy; no ideological or identity-based canon shifts.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Dominant backlash targeted Sonic’s trailer design only; no significant claims of woke propaganda, forced diversity, or activist messaging emerged, with any diversity notes remaining fringe.
Creator track record context
No relevant prior activist, identity-driven, or social-justice work by director, writers, or key producers.
Production
