Since his seeming semi-retirement after 2016's Dark Crimes, comedy legend Jim Carrey has made something of a comeback, though it's fair to question why he only mainly seems to be doing Sonic the Hedgehog movies now. After a string of box office disappointments and critically panned films, the actor stepped back from the limelight for a while. However, Carrey is back in full force, using the same '90s-era energy from the start of his career to give a fun and loveable performance as Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog and in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Getting his first big-screen breakthrough starring in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, the actor was an A-lister throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, known for his manic energy and quick wit. Like many other actors, though, his popularity began to wane, eventually leading Carrey to take a several years-long break from the film industry. While the rubber-faced comedian did disappear for a while, his semi-retirement would be very short-lived.
Although he disappeared, the beloved actor seems to be back now with Jim Carrey working on several upcoming movies. In a 2017 interview (via TIFF), Carrey opened up about his struggles with depression and identity, stating that "Jim Carrey was a less intentional character because I thought I was just building something that people would like, but it was a character." However, Carrey has been vocal about how he has been undergoing treatment and is improving, leading him to want to jump back into the film world, starting with Sonic the Hedgehog. The choice to do the video game adaptations was quite intentional on Carrey's part. As he's revealed, something about video game icon Dr. Eggman intrigues Carrey in that, arguably, he related to him.
In an interview given while promoting the first Sonic film (via Collider), Carrey explained that he is attracted to the role because Eggman is a "genius combined with neglect and a sense of absolute worthlessness." The actor enjoys that, while the character does allow him to use the same "childlike discovery energy" seen in his earlier films, Dr. Robotnik has a sense of depth and sadness that Carrey can sink his teeth into. In the same interview, Carrey revealed that he improvised lines about Robotnik's past and status as an orphan. In Robotnik, Carrey has clearly found another character that is not only fun to play but is also personally relatable. It just so happens that the character is a video game scientist who wants to turn animals into robots.
Jim Carrey's portrayal of Robotnik is fantastic due to the surprising depth and intricacy that he brings to the character. If it were not for the effort the actor puts in, it is entirely possible that the character could come off as campy or one-dimensional. Carrey's performance is what made the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie great, and it's good to know that Robotnik is a character that Carrey can empathize with and turn into a shockingly insightful villain. To the benefit of audiences who miss him, the character of Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog has given the actor the inspiration he needed to once again jump back into the spotlight.
