Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review
Once again, Sonic’s gotta go fast.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Credit: Paramount Pictures / Sega
In preparation to watch Sonic the Hedgehog 3, I caught up with the previous two films in the franchise. All three movies in the franchise, directed by Jeff Fowler, are entertaining family films that are creatively faithful adaptations of the source material. Sonic 2 improved on the first movie, so I expected this sequel to be even better based on the new characters it would introduce. At first, I found the new movie underwhelming, but it was saved by a killer third act that was a ton of fun.
As the third installment opens, we see Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and Knuckles (Idris Elba) living happily as a family with Tom and Maddie Wachowski (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter), who treat the three colorful, anthropomorphic aliens as their adopted children. When Shadow (Keanu Reeves), another powerful alien hedgehog, awakens and escapes from a secret facility in Japan, military organization GUN, once Sonic’s enemies, come to him to help stop Shadow, who is bent on revenge on humanity.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Credit: Paramount Pictures / Sega
Jim Carrey returns not only as iconic Sonic villain Dr. Robotnik but also as his long-lost grandfather Gerald Robotnik, a character crucial to Shadow’s story. Carrey isn’t just a highlight like in the rest of the series; he’s a double highlight here as he plays against himself, and his funny, over-the-top antics elevate the messy first two acts of the movie. It’s been rewarding to see Carrey’s gradual transformation over the course of the franchise into faithfully depicting the video game series’ Eggman, appearing here in his most game-accurate costume and shape yet.
James Marsden and Tika Sumpter’s wholesome roles haven’t been my favorite parts of these movies. Their silliest, most unbelievable plotline yet in the franchise makes a heist sequence in the film nearly unbearable. Thankfully, Jim Carrey and Jim Carrey save the day with an out-of-nowhere dance interlude that proves that double the Carrey is double the fun, and Marsden is soon relegated to being a plot device.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Credit: Paramount Pictures / Sega
Sonic 3 kicks into high gear in its action-packed third act. The inevitable Sonic and Shadow team-up, heralded by “Live & Learn,” the iconic theme of Sonic Adventure 2, brought on one of the loudest, most exuberant reactions I’ve heard from a theater audience. It took a long while to arrive, but I was fully on board with the movie by that moment.
Visually, Sonic 3 looks great. Long gone are the days of Ugly Sonic from the first movie’s early teaser trailers. The CG characters’ game-accurate selves fit in perfectly, believably interacting with the world and other characters onscreen. The film is colorful, lightening the tone of the darkest plotline in the series. Robotnik’s robotic creation designs are memorable, particularly his crab ship.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Credit: Paramount Pictures / Sega
Sonic 3 includes a mid-credits scene that sets up characters for the inevitable fourth film in the series. I must admit, I’m now excited to see the next movie when it releases in 2027, though perhaps not as enthusiastically as my screening audience, who collectively lost their shit during the scene in a reaction even louder than the one they made during the earlier team-up and needle-drop. Also, be sure to stick around until the very end of the credits for one more brief scene.
Sonic 3 isn’t an amazing film, but it’s a great time at the movies, especially if you’re lucky enough to have an excited audience. If you liked the previous two movies, you’re in for a treat. It’s a good movie to see as a family and will surely be a hit over Christmas.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opens in theaters on Friday, December 20, 2024.
