There’s never been better proof of the bizarre timeline we live in than the fact that, despite continuously being critically and commercially pummeled in the video game world by Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog has somehow not only managed to churn out a full trilogy of films, but have each one improve upon the last. Now with this third film, returning director Jeff Fowler (“Sonic the Hedgehog (2020),” “Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)”) and returning writers Pat Casey (“Golan the Insatiable,” “Violent Night”), Josh Miller (“Golan the Insatiable,” “Violent Night”), and John Whittington (“The LEGO Batman Movie,” “DC League of Super-Pets”) are tackling one of the game series’ most beloved characters and one of its darkest stories.
The film follows the further adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, voiced by Ben Schwartz (“Space Force,” “The Afterparty”), Tails the Fox, voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey (“Digimon,” “Danny Phantom”), and Knuckles the Echidna, voiced by Idris Elba (“The Suicide Squad,” “The Wire”), as they encounter a new and more dangerous hedgehog: the brooding Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves (“The Matrix,” “John Wick”). This new counterpart forces them to team up with Dr. Ivo Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey (“The Mask,” “The Truman Show”), and his henchman/assistant Agent Stone, played by Lee Majdoub (“Assassin's Creed Mirage,” “Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency”), as they face off against Shadow and his creator, the scientist Professor Gerald Robotnik, also played by Carrey.
If you’ve seen the previous two films, you might notice that the above synopsis is missing a handful of characters. While the likes of Tom and Maddie, played by James Marsden (“Hairspray,” “Enchanted”) and Tika Sumpter (“Southside with You,” “Ride Along”) respectively, are still here and are still a large part of the story, the writers have smartly reduced the amount of awkwardly shoehorned-in human subplots. This means that rarely do things divulge from team Sonic, resulting in a film that has a more distinct identity than other “human and CGI character” family films. It also means those humans and characters feel like they’re more naturally part of the tale, as tom and Maddie are here to assist Sonic rather than steal the spotlight.
The entire cast continues to excel, blending in perfectly with their characters and selling this world and these colorful characters effortlessly. Schwartz is still a fantastic voice for the blue blur, almost surpassing some of the game’s own voice actors. O’Shaughnessey is great, just as she has been for years in the other games and shows. Elba cements himself as a top-tier voice actor given his clear love for Knuckles as a character. Reeves is a great choice for Shadow and he does a great job threading the needle between the silly world of these anthropomorphic creatures and also the genuine seriousness of Shadow’s tale.
Carrey is the highlight of the human characters, with Majdoub’s perfect chemistry continuing to be a highlight. Carey’s double roles not only evoke the comedy films of the 90s, but it also allows him to take on two differing interpretations of a similar character type. Not only that, but like Shadow, there are moments of legitimate emotional gravitas from both Gerald and Ivo that results in an oddly sweet and impactful sendoff for Carrey as an actor. Marsden and Sumpter, despite being utilized less, are just as good and sweet as before, with the only odd spot being Krysten Ritter (“Breaking Bad,” “Jessica Jones”) as Director Rockwell, the head of the G.U.N. organization, who feels vastly underutilized given her comedic skills.
Fowler’s experience as a visual effects artist continues to make these some of the best-looking blockbuster films out there. Not only is the action expertly framed by cinematographer Brandon Trost (“This is the End,” “The Night Before”), but the characters and effects pop with color and life. Tom Holkenborg’s (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Deadpool”) score blends the best bits of the game’s music with a lively electronic score that kicks all the action up a notch.
The action itself, framed by Trost, is a significant step up from the previous films' work. It's evident that Fowler got his start in the visual effect industry, as the action is staged expertly within the digital and physical worlds. It’s boisterous and grand in scale, without devolving into something soupy or difficult to follow. The quality of those effects is also a significant step up from recent blockbuster works, imbuing the entire world with bright and bold colors that pop regardless of what they are. It’s the kind of film that has its fair share of dimly lit scenes, but nothing is ever hard to see because of the skill of the effects teams bringing it all to life.
Some could easily draw issue with the wide tonal swings the film takes. It is jarring when it jumps between overly comedic moments of the Robotnik’s to the more serious tale of Shadow and Sonic. However, each of those individual elements work so well that it’s hard to find fault with the film’s handling of them. At its core, Fowler and the film’s deep sense of earnestness and sincerity take it over the top. Despite being the third film in a series entirely based around a pre-existing video-game franchise, there isn't a shred of cynicism here. It truly does feel like a film that could only exist and be made by people who have genuine love for the material and characters in their heart.
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is, on the surface, the epitome of modern blockbuster filmmaking: it’s the second sequel to a film based on a pre-existing video game IP packed full of recognizable “movie star” names. Yet each subsequent film has been better than the last, resulting in a third film that is legitimately one of the best video game adaptations ever made. It’s a thrilling action-packed adventure that’s funny and also exceptionally heartfelt when it’s required. It isn’t perfect by any means, but whereas the first two films came recommended with some caveats, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is an unequivocal good time for all ages, no matter your level of experience with the blue blur. 4.5/5
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