The Best Time James Marsden Ever Broke Character In Sonic The Hedgehog
It's no secret how much pushback "Sonic the Hedgehog" received when the first preview dropped for the world to see in 2019. People were extremely critical of the original design for the (questionably) adorable blue hedgehog, but criticism slowed after director Jeff Fowler announced on Twitter that the production team would rework Sonic's appearance before the film's release. Viewers were much kinder to the final version of the character, with the film currently at a 93% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Arguably, "Sonic the Hedgehog" is one of the better video game movies ever made, grossing over $300 million from its worldwide theatrical release (via The Numbers). A lot of its charm is thanks to the stellar cast, whose characters, paired with wonderful humor and a fast-paced storyline, brought "Sonic the Hedgehog" such success that we're getting a sequel.
James Marsden portrays Tom Wachowski, a local sheriff who ends up partnering with Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz), and his onscreen chemistry with everyone — including the animated hedgehog — is impressive. Jim Carrey, who plays Dr. Robotnik, electrifies the screen as the antagonist, looking like he's having as much fun playing the role as it is to watch him in it. But despite the expert performances we saw in the final film, even veteran stars like Marsden and Carrey didn't get every shot on the first try.
Sonic the Hedgehog had its share of bloopers
For fans who love to see behind the curtain when it comes to movies and shows, blooper reels are a fun treat. Some productions choose to release parts of the footage that didn't make it into the film as a way to reveal the actors being themselves and the interesting experiences they may have had on set. In a blooper reel from "Sonic the Hedgehog," the cast lets loose and shows how much they enjoyed working together — as well as times that they just couldn't keep a straight face during a take. There are a lot of funny moments, but one of the best with James Marsden comes from one of his interactions with Jim Carrey, showing a scene that apparently took several tries to film without them breaking character.
In the clip, Carrey is close to Marsden for the scene in which Dr. Robotnik shows up at Tom's house. Marsden says "Word," to which Carrey replies, "To the mother." After a moment of looking at each other intensely, the pair break character and start laughing. There are a few more instances of this exchange, and each one of them ends with Marsden and Carrey breaking into giggles at each other's subtle jokes. This moment is a great example of the actors' behind-the-scenes rapport and how, at least on that day of filming, they could make each other laugh with the smallest things. While their antics might have led to more run-throughs of the scene, we're glad to see that the outtakes from "Sonic the Hedgehog" included this instance of Marsden breaking character during filming — it's one of the best of many others included on the blooper reel.