Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – Review

Amidst a longstanding belief that live-action video-games-to-film adaptations are more frowned upon than praised, 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog stuck out with a unique, rarely-seen instance – Sega’s mascot went from being lambasted to becoming universally embraced, and then some. 

The current design for the blue speedster may be beloved, but that wasn’t always the case – its original look, unveiled in a debut trailer for the film, featured smaller eyes, human-like teeth, and a spindly face, painting an unsightly, borderline-creepy image that fans would come to describe as “Ugly Sonic”.

The huge disparity to its video game likeness drew plenty of backlash and kerfuffle from fans, prompting an elaborate visual revamp, and by extension, a delayed theatrical release from 2019 to the following year. When a shiny second trailer dropped, the nightmare fuel was replaced by a faithful recreation of Sega’s iconic blue blur, demonstrating the sway of fandom solidarity and the importance of heeding feedback. 

It was a lesson hard learned, and Paramount has been slowly reaping the rewards. For all their stumbles, the first two films proved critics wrong with successful runs at the box office, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 looks to continue in the same vein. Third time’s still the charm, except there’s even more enjoyment to be found here, from fan-service moments and the highly-anticipated introduction of a new character to Jim Carrey’s magnetic on-screen presence, if excessive at times. 

The actor-comedian, of course, returns as Sonic’s arch-nemesis, Dr. Robotnik in this third outing helmed by returning director Jeff Fowler. That’s just half the job done, however – he also breathes life into the latter’s distant, estranged grandfather, Gerald Robotnik, who plays a major role in the story, where Shadow the Hedgehog, voiced by none other than John Wick star Keanu Reeves, is quickly established as the big bad. 

A foil to Sonic (Ben Schwartz, Parks and Recreation), the jet-black-furred antihero is driven by a tortured backstory involving a young girl, Maria. At the start of the film, he escapes from a research laboratory after 50 years in stasis, and G.U.N (short for Guardian Units of Nations) enlists the help of Sonic, Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Danny Phantom), and Knuckles (Idris Elba, Luther) to deal with his powerful abilities and fighting prowess. Now adopted by Tom (James Marsden, X-Men) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter, Southside with You) Wachowski, the trio’s found family situation paints a stark contrast to Shadow’s vengeance narrative. Suffice to say, things are never quite what they seem and grow more complicated as the film progresses. 

In line with its kid-friendly nature, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 structures one of its core tenets around family. There’s a heavy focus on the camaraderie and dynamics between the characters, whether it’s Team Sonic, the Eggmen, Dr. Robotnik and his henchman Agent Stone (Lee Majdoub, Assassin’s Creed Mirage), or Shadow and Maria, balancing out the lighthearted overtones with some emotionally-stirring, albeit cheesy, sincerity. 

The exploration of human-hedgehog camaraderie, in particular, lends a more human touch to Shadow, with his severe personality allowing for a dose of gravitas that the previous two outings couldn’t afford with Team Sonic’s goofy, brighter presence. It’s a refreshing change in pace, even if the flashback-style unfolding of Shadow’s backstory can be a little haphazard and jarring. Still, the threequel is a respectable stab at flashing out the friendship between Shadow and Maria, as compared to the awkward writing and lack of nuance in the games regarding human and hedgehog relationships. 

Reeves proves to be a right fit for the role with his gruff, Wick-flavoured voice and in the situations that call for it, mellower tones, conveying depth that makes it easy to understand and emphasise with the fan favourite character. Similarly, Schwartz continues to be the perfect Sonic, maintaining a strong performance across all three films, with O’Shaughnessey and Alba also keeping up the infectious and playful energy that holds the alien trio together. 

The standout, though, is Carrey, who’s very much in his element. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 marks his best showing in the franchise yet, as he plays up the zany, eccentric tendencies of Dr. Robotnik, furnished with the sharper wit of his equally, if not more, megalomanic relative. The interaction between them unfolds in an amusing, uplifting manner that largely succeeds in drawing out a chuckle or two, but it’s also where the self-indulgence starts to dip into cloying territory.

Take, for instance, a certain dance sequence in the middle of crossing a laser maze. While silly, harmless fun is all part of the formula (heck, the films thrive on it), there’s a limit to embracing the chaos before the initial shine wears off and overstays its welcome. There are a few of such moments in the threequel, though nothing excessive enough to warrant frustrated groans or a loss in attention. It doesn’t escape notice that Carrey, coming out of supposed retirement, is enjoying his turn, and the delight shows in more ways than one. 

On the flip side, the rest of the cast has been put on the backburner. The Wachowskis barely appear, and Krysten Ritter is underutilised as the new head of G.U.N., Director Rockwell. It’s a compromise that yields conflicting feelings – on the one hand, human characters are what gives the movies a distinct identity separate from the games; on the other, the stronger parts of the movie often involve their CGI counterparts, including the high-octane scenes. 

Indeed, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 breathes life into the kinetic tinsel that fans love about the long-running (ha) series. Where its predecessors were more rooted in slapstick comedy, dynamic and silky-smooth action takes centrestage here. The spirit of racing aligns more closely with its video game roots, pitting the titular speed demon against Shadow as the pair dashes down the streets of a realistically-rendered Shibuya and up the skyscrapers in Tokyo. Naturally, the setting can’t quite compare to the level design in Sega’s titles, but the animation is a sight for sore eyes and proves competent at dishing out thrills. 

Outside of sprinting, other big setpieces like fight sequences hold up fairly well, too. The charged atmosphere between Sonic and Shadow is palpable each time they clash, and the resulting choreography makes for a nice little adrenaline fix. In its final moments, the movie goes all out to deliver an explosive climax, which is bolder and on a larger scale than before. 

Elsewhere, the humour continues in the same vein as its previous outings. Pop culture references and fourth-wall-breaking jokes are rife, from a nod to 2019’s Detective Pikachu and the iconic motorcycle slide seen in Akira (1988) to a self-aware jab that highlights Carrey’s dual role. There are also groan-worthy puns and dad jokes to round out the experience, and while not every one sticks the landing, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 promises more hits than misses. At their weakest, the quips can be grating and awkward, however. 

The familiarity carries over to the story, which is almost a beat-by-beat recreation of the second movie structurally and held together by messy threads. But let’s be honest – nobody expects a deep, life-changing narrative out of Sonic adaptations, where the main point is to revel in its absurd fun and fan service excitement. As with the first two installments, series veterans and enthusiasts should keep an eye out for a slew of references, including the Chao Garden, an iconic soundtrack and direct quotes from Sonic Adventure 2, and of course, the post-credits scenes (yes, plural, because they are two). 

For newcomers, there won’t be any cause for worry. Both Sonic the Hedgehog and its sequel were designed to be accessible, and this latest follow-up inherits the same approach. No knowledge of the games, the two live-action flicks, or the Knuckles spin-off series (2024) is required to enjoy it, although the additional context will definitely enrich the viewing experience. 

It’s taken some time, but Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has finally hit its stride. Unabashedly proud of its roots, the threequel places a heavier focus on the game characters, balancing its previously established goofiness with a more serious, cool air and authenticity to the source material. Never shy to embrace its video game roots and heritage, Sonic 3  understands its audiences and makes the best use of its cast of actors to deliver the best movie of the series.

The flashy action and double Carrey chaos completes the formula, serving as a fitting send-off for the Year of Shadow – dubbed by Sega in celebration of the fan-favourite hedgehog throughout 2024. Expect missteps, but embrace the journey of it all.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.