Background

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the highly anticipated third installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise that started in 2020 with Sonic the Hedgehog. These films are not known for their quality, but are beloved for their faithful adaptations of the iconic Sega characters. This movie draws inspiration from the video game Sonic Adventure 2 ,which is a highly praised game by Sonic fans, and features the first appearance of Shadow the Hedgehog on the big screen. 

Plot Summary

Sonic, Tails and Knuckles must reunite to stop Shadow the Hedgehog who escaped from Prison Island. Shadow the Hedgehog is a new mysterious foe with powers the team has never faced before. After having their abilities outmatched by Shadow in every way, Team Sonic must find an unlikely ally in Dr. Eggman/Robotnik. 

Review

This film is not targeted toward film enthusiasts. Rather, it is directed solely towards Sonic game enthusiasts. The big fights and lore from the first two films have been dialed up to eleven. This film is not the best traditional film, but a perfect Sonic movie. The people who worked on this movie have a noticeable passion for the characters that can be seen in every second of the movie, making it a non-stop blast for Sonic fans. The story has been almost entirely based on the story of the previously mentioned Sonic Adventure 2. Unlike the last two Sonic movies, this film does not dedicate time to the human characters and human subplots. Instead, the focus of this movie is only about the Sonic characters that people come to see. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best movie in the series yet.

By far the best part of the movie was Shadow, played by Keanu Reeves. After seeing the movie, all skepticism about this casting went out the window. Keanu Reeves brings a performance that is truly special to the character. Reeves’s voice beautifully compliments the dark persona of Shadow. Throughout the movie, flashbacks of Shadow’s origin take us on a journey to learn about Dr. Gerald Robotnik and Maria Robotnik. These flashbacks give Shadow the character development and allow the audience to sympathize with his loss. This story line gives this movie a great emotional hook that elevates the film to a higher standard.

Another great point about this movie is Jim Carrey’s portrayal of Dr. Eggman and Dr. Gerald Robotnik. Jim Carrey is well known for his brilliant comedic performances and these characters put him on a plate. Every scene Jim Carrey is in is exciting because his line delivery is loud and overt. Halfway through the movie, Jim Carrey has a dance scene that would be considered unnecessary if it was not one of the best aspects of the movie.

The action set pieces of this film continue to get better than the last, from Sonic chasing Shadow through Tokyo and their showdown in the finale. There are fewer action scenes than the last two films, but the quality is better than the quantity. The final act is an indescribable triumph that delivers to the fans on all fronts. The incredibly choreographed action is suspenseful and never fast-paced. It is also made perfect when it is accompanied with its phenomenal soundtrack and score. The climax crescendos by adding stakes on top of stakes that add to the already high tension. Each scene becomes more thrilling than the last. By the end, the audience is left in shock and craving more.

Summary

Overall, I did not find many flaws in this movie and the very few flaws it has are minor. Besides one fourth wall joke in particular during the second act that was absurd and a few problems with the story, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a movie that builds on its predecessors and delivers on all fronts. Cementing the Sonic trilogy as a worthy addition to the franchise. Whether or not you are a fan of the games, Sonic 3 contains something for everybody.