©Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Video games often thrive on their repetitive nature once they find a recipe for success, especially ones that feature an innocent, family-family appeal. Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog series is such a prime example that it has spawned an equally exhilarating film trilogy adaptation by Paramount Pictures. The movie series’ latest installment, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, replicates an overarching plot point with proven success – the titular character and his allies trying to stop the ultimate disaster with help from an unexpected source.
That disaster comes from the actions and emotions of a mysterious new villain. The team must face off against Shadow the Hedgehog, a fan favorite from the video games, who has powers unlike anything Sonic and his allies have faced before.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jeff Fowler returns to direct the second sequel in the colorful, surprise-packed comedy-adventure movie franchise, after he previously helmed the first two entries. The new film was written by returning series scribes, Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington. The second follow-up features such franchise veteran actors as Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, Idris Elba, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter and Colleen O’Shaughnessey, as well as newcomer Keanu Reeves as Shadow.
©Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 follows Sonic (Schwartz) and his friends Tails (O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Elba) as they have settled in Green Hills after their decisive victory over the evil Dr. Robotnik (Carrey) in the previous movie. They’re experiencing the simple joys of family life with Tom and Maddie Wachowski (Marsden and Sumpter) when an urgent request from G.U.N. interrupts their camping trip.
Dispatched to Japan to stop an attack by a seemingly uncontainable enemy, the team embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, the trio discover that Shadow is driven by rage and anger, as he was put in suspended animation at G.U.N. 50 years ago. He has now gotten loose and is determined to get his revenge against those who put him into captivity.
In order to stop Shadow, Sonic and his team must reluctantly join forces with Robotnik (Carrey), who they are surprised to learn survived after they defeated him in the second film. He has since stepped down from his evil ways, but is eager to help the team after he realizes his drones were stolen, seemingly by Shadow.
However, Robotnik’s evil side is quickly reawakened when his long-lost 110-year-old grandfather, Gerald (also played by Carrey), who also spent the past 50 years in prison for helping Shadow, reemerges. The two Robotniks decide to reunite with Shadow to create the ultimate weapon of destruction in order to take out their revenge for being imprisoned.
From the streets of London and Tokyo to a long-hidden mountain laboratory and even outer space, Sonic and his team try to stop Shadow, the most powerful adversary they have ever encountered.
©Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
The comedy is a refreshingly eccentric and action-packed adventure that seamlessly blends live action with state-of-the-art CG characters. The anthropomorphic animals, particularly Sonic and the surprising lookalike Shadow, engage in enthralling physical comedy and jokes driven by inherent silliness, as they embark on journeys that are also emotionally relatable.
Sonic is intent on proving to Tails and Knuckles that they can trust in their new connections as close friends. Meanwhile, Shadow also makes them realize the pain he’s feeling over losing his true connections when he was captured.
But through exciting and funny experiences, the story also becomes heartfelt. As Shadow witnesses how Sonic and his team truly care for each other, he realizes his new allies, the Robotniks, are only concerned about themselves.
The franchise’s third installment further proves its equally off-the-wall and earnest nature by Schwartz’s signatue dynamic portrayal of Sonic. The actor once again brought a energetically humorous and dramatically sentimental nature to his performance as Sonic. The performer also once again grounded the character in authentic emotion, whether he’s jokingly trying to beat Tails and Knuckles in a race or attempting to stop Shadow from trying to destroy the world.
©Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Even Dr. Robotnik is given a redemptive, emotional arc throughout the comedy as he realizes how complicated his relationship with his grandfather has really become throughout the story. The grandfather-grandson pair look and act strikingly similar, even mentioning in meta fashion during their first meeting that “It’s like watching two characters in a movie played by the same person!” But once the younger Robotnik realizes his elder’s true motivations, Carrey brings the series’ first two films’ antagonist on a surprisingly redemptive arc, which proves his true emotional maturity.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 also fully embraces continuing the important messages from the franchise’s previous two entries, which Tom instills in the eponymous character, who then passes on to Tails and Knuckles. One of those vital themes is that while protecting family and friends is important, no one should allow their grief over being separated from a loved one cloud their judgment.
Fowler was able to recapture the stunning visuals, light-hearted comedy, enthralling performances and important life lessons that he included in the first two Sonic the Hedgehog movies in its new captivating third installment. The series’ second sequel is also led by Carrey’s signature physical comedy as the two Robotniks, as well as Schwartz’s noteworthy dynamic voice portrayal of Sonic. Intertwined with Sonic teaching his new allies that honoring their family and friends is one of life’s most vital lessons, the action comedy is another stellar entry in the franchise.
Overall: B+
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is being released in theaters today, Friday, December 20, 2024, by Paramount Pictures.
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Here’s the trailer of the film.