Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – The Best Sonic Yet

It feels like just yesterday that the majority of the internet was buzzing over the “Ugly Sonic” controversy. With that controversy and those teeth now well in the rear view mirror, the Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise and its two installments so far have delighted longtime fans and newcomers alike. Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the next film in the franchise, is arguably its best film yet. The voice cast and live-action cast all return, however, they are also joined by Keanu Reeves, who joins the world of Sonic as the fan-favorite, Shadow the Hedgehog. In what could have easily been yet another example of a studio casting a star like Reeves in order to leverage his star power, the choice to cast him proved to be an excellent one as he delivers a powerful performance that captures the brooding intensity of Shadow.

Where Sonic (Schwartz) finds family and friends, Shadow finds only pain and loss. While this next installment may not provide the most profound exploration of personal loss, the film offers more than enough emotional depth to still resonate with younger audiences. To do so, it finds much of that depth through Sonic’s evolving relationships with his adoptive father, Tom (James Marsden), and his friends, Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba). With their incredible chemistry is on full display here, their combined skill sets allow for director Jeff Fowler to challenge them with significantly greater threats. The stakes, this time around, have never been higher, forcing Sonic to venture from his small town home to such exotic locales as Tokyo, London, and even outer space.

Following a fiery start, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 carries that momentum throughout its near two-hour runtime where every moment is dedicated to either developing a character, showcasing exciting action, or incorporating charming humor. One can’t help but notice how the franchise has slowly moved away from subplots involving its main human characters. A common criticism of the franchise, especially that of the second film, is how the human subplots tend to take away from Sonic and the gang. However, the filmmakers have addressed those complaints in this film by instead focusing on the saga of Sonic, Shadow, and Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Carrey). That being said, Tom and Maddie Wachowski (Sumpter) do make short appearances. While their screen time is limited, their roles in the story were nevertheless vital as the film would not have work without them.

Meanwhile, Dr. Gerald Robotnik (also Carrey). the grandfather to Ivo Robotnik, brings twice the Robotnik mayhem to the festivities. The humor stemming from that grandfather-grandson dynamic may be excessive at times and overshadow the other characters, but it is clear that Carrey is having the time of his life playing both characters, and their energy prevent the film from ever feeling dull. Despite the similarities between Gerald and Ivo, Carrey’s performance and the writing help shape them into two distinct characters. The older and tougher Robotnik, the contrast between Gerald and Ivo would allow the latter to develop a greater understanding of himself. 

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 extends its aforementioned exploration of companionship and loss to the Robotniks. While they may be different from Sonic and Shadow, they share a lot of parallels that are at the root of who they were, though some manifest in unhealthy behavior, primarily the seeking revenge. In the end, what is perhaps most impressive about the film is how it can simultaneously appeal to hardcore fans of Sonic and newcomers alike. The franchise simply understands that it is not just about anthropomorphic creatures with superpowers, it is also about its tremendous heart. Ultimately, the film does not set out to be narratively complex or groundbreaking in terms of storytelling. Instead, it is a family-friendly adventure offering up plenty of heart, exciting action, and comedic charm.

In these challenging times, a film like this one may very well be what audiences need and for those clamoring for more adventures of the Sonic trio, Shadow, and more, they have no signs of stopping any time soon.

still courtesy of Paramount Pictures

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Matthew Kang