As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of watching films under my belt, I must say that the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is shaping up to be quite the spectacle, especially with the addition of Hollywood’s nicest guy, Keanu Reeves, and the one-of-a-kind Jim Carrey. However, if you’re hankering for a taste of their on-screen chemistry before the blue blur races into theaters, I recommend taking a detour to the somewhat forgotten 2017 film, The Bad Batch.
As a die-hard cinema enthusiast and video game aficionado, let me share some thrilling news: The iconic video game character, everyone’s beloved hedgehog Sonic, is making his comeback! Paramount has just dropped the trailer for the long-awaited Sonic the Hedgehog 3, scheduled to hit theaters in December. With our cherished cast members like James Marsden, Jim Carrey, and Ben Schwartz (the voice of Sonic) returning for another adventure, it’s going to be a wild ride! You can also expect some fresh faces joining this fantastic crew too!
The biggest addition to the Sonic family is Hollywood’s resident nice guy, Keanu Reeves, as new adversary Shadow the Hedgehog. The casting was a reward for devoted fans, who had pitched Reeves as the ideal voice for the divisive character since his cameo in the second film. This also marks the latest high-profile franchise project for Reeves, who enjoyed a career resurgence in the late 2010s and early 2020s thanks to John Wick and legacy sequels to Bill & Ted and The Matrix. If anyone can liven up Shadow’s famously weak characterization and line delivery, it’s Keanu. Though he does not appear on screen, Sonic 3 also marks a reunion for Reeves and Jim Carrey after appearing together in The Bad Batch. And don’t worry if you didn’t remember that those two legends previously shared the screen. It seems that not many people did. How did a Reeves and Carrey movie fly so far under the radar? Let’s take a look.
Keanu and Carrey Both Appeared in 2016’s The Bad Batch
Beyond adding Reeves to the lineup, Carrey will once again slip into his Dr. Robotnik costume for the third round. The unhinged scientist fits him like a glove. While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering Jim Carrey’s roles, they recently starred together in a dark, futuristic film titled “The Bad Batch,” which shares no connection with the “Star Wars” animated series.
The story centers on a dystopian world where the US government exiles the titular “bad batch” of undesirable citizens to a Texas-adjacent desert where they fend for themselves. A woman named Arlen (Suki Waterhouse) is sent to this desert, where she is kidnapped by two women. One of them cuts off her arm and leg, with Arlen observing cannibalism of human limbs. Arlen manages to kill the woman and escape, where she’s rescued by a desert hermit (Carrey) who brings her to a makeshift town settlement called Comfort. After settling in Comfort, Arlen kills another cannibalistic woman and takes a little girl who was with the woman back to town. The hermit sees this and directs the little girl’s father, Miami Man (Jason Momoa), to Comfort after he finds the dead body.
In a small town’s outskirts, Arlen unintentionally loses sight of the girl named Honey. A man known as Miami Man confronts Arlen and compels her to guide him to Honey, who is now under the care of The Dream (Reeves), the leader of Comfort. They embark on a journey back to Comfort, but Miami Man gets wounded by another cannibal along the way. Upon reaching Comfort, The Dream proposes that Arlen join his group of women attending to the town’s needs as concubines. Desiring to rescue Honey, Arlen seizes one of these women as a hostage. Eventually, Arlen and Honey manage their escape, reuniting with Miami Man who has since recovered from his injuries thanks to a hermit. Honey reconnects with Miami Man, and Arlen decides to stay with them, opting not to remain in Comfort.
Why Isn’t The Bad Batch More Well Known?
Isn’t The Bad Batch just like one of those quirky journeys you see in a Jim Carrey film? The movie made its debut at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2016, and shortly following its release, Netflix took it up for distribution. The film had a restricted theatrical release in the United States on June 23, 2017, pulling in only $201k at the box office against a budget of $6 million. Alongside the theatrical screening, it was also made available through Netflix and digital platforms like iTunes and Prime Video. Additionally, DVD and Blu-ray versions hit the shelves in September.
The movie “The Bad Batch” received a mixed response, with only 45% approval on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found fault with the storyline, pacing, and lengthy two-hour duration. Although some admired the visuals, they felt they didn’t compensate for the weak narrative. Despite this, it was selected to vie for Venice’s most prestigious film award, the Golden Lion. Although it failed to win the top prize, “The Bad Batch” did receive the Special Jury Prize instead.
It’s possible that The Bad Batch isn’t as well-known among filmgoers today due to its underperformance. Although it shares a similar vibe with Reeves’ work, it might not be a genre we typically link to Jim Carrey. If you’re intrigued by this unique pairing of Keanu and Carrey, you might want to watch The Bad Batch. It’s quite the opposite of the Sonic franchise. If you’re keen on seeing their collaboration before Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theaters in December 2024, consider adding this Netflix gem to your watchlist. Stream The Bad Batch on Netflix now.
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2024-08-29 01:01