Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review – Chaos, Shadow and a Flawed but Fun Sequel
Coming a long way from the rocky start with the 1st infamous trailer, Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise today is a family-friendly film series. It began as one of the meme-worthy disasters. However, it evolved into an enjoyable series. Sonic the Hedgehog pays homage to the Sega games while it carves out its own identity.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 release is one of the biggest leaps of the franchise. Through the new release, the franchise dives into the more complex and darker lore of games, particularly Sonic Adventure 2. But the question is, does it stick its landing? Well, let’s dive into the charm, chaos, and some occasional missteps that were a part of the high-speed sequel.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a Tale with Two Tones
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the franchise’s newest addition. The storyline picks up from where the 2nd movie left off, the trio teaming up for facing the new threat–
- Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey)
- Sonic (Ben Schwartz), and
- Knuckles (Idris Elba) come together to face Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves).
The genetically engineered ultimate life form, Shadow, escapes from the G.U.N containment facility. It sets off the chain of events, which forces Sonic and friends to team up with Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey), their old nemesis, and Gerald Robotnik (role played by Carrey), his long-lost grandfather.
The movie here attempts to balance the goofy and lighthearted tone of the previous movies with the dark and much more emotional themes of the Shadow’s backstory. Now, as the duality here is ambitious, it doesn’t mesh in a right way. The movie can be seen oscillating between the genuine pathos moments and the slapstick humor, creating a tonal whiplash that could be jarring.
Shadow's tragic past, including his bond with Maria Robotnik (Alyla Browne), has been carefully handled. But the poignant moments clash with Robotnik's over-the-top antics and the sugar-rush, relentless energy of the film.
Shadow the Hedgehog is the franchise’s Ultimate Addition
Shadow undoubtedly is the film’s highlight. Keanu Reeves brings brooding and wounded intensity to the role. It perfectly captures the tragic and edgy persona of the character. The teleportation abilities of Shadow and also his rocket shoes make him a formidable foe, while his internal conflict adds to the story’s depth.
The movie, however, can be clearly seen underutilizing Shadow. It sidelines him for the large portions of the runtime, for focusing on Robotniks and also the other subplots. When Shadow is on-screen, he commands the attention. The dynamic he has with Sonic, who served as the foil to Shadow’s cynicism, is quite compelling.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3: Double Carrey and Triple Chaos
Jim Carrey returns to the role of Dr. Ivo Robotnik. This time, he pulled a double duty— Gerald Robotnik and Ivo’s grandfather. While the physical comedy and the manic energy are just as entertaining as ever, the decision to include 2 Robotniks feels quite excessive.
The presence of Gerald adds little to the story, which goes beyond giving Carrey more screen time for hamming it up. The lack of distinction between 2 characters undermines what exactly made Ivo the fun villain within the 1st 2 movies of the franchise. That being said, the comedic timing of Carrey and the over-the-top delivery, it still offers plenty of laughs, despite the film feeling to lean too heavily upon his antics.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s Action is Fast and Furious, Yet Flawed
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 action sequences can be called a mixed bag. On the one hand, the movie delivers thrilling and high-speed battles that rip right out of the Dragon Ball Z, with Shadow and Sonic zipping through the air, teleporting in a blur of motion and trading blows. The scenes are quite impressive visually. They show the powers of the characters in creative ways.
On the other hand, the reliance of film on the chaotic and over-the-top action can be quite overwhelming, especially when the same is paired with the already frenetic pacing. The balance between storytelling and spectacle is quite skewed. It leaves some of the emotional moments, such as feeling underdeveloped or rushed.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3: Is the Humor a Hit or a Miss?
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 humor is also a mixed bag. While the film does deliver laughs, its many jokes feel dated and overly reliant on references to pop culture. The obsession that Knuckles has with muscles and those quippy 1-liners of Sonic, well, they all offer some genuine chuckles. But the actual comedic tone of the movie quite often clashes with the darker themes.
The decision to minimize the human characters' time, like Rachel (Natasha Rothwell) and Wade (Adam Pally), is quite a welcoming change. It’s because their subplots within the previous movies often felt like unwanted and unnecessary distractions.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Visuals are Bold, Bright, and Beautiful
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is visually a treat. The Sonic character's animation is top-notch, with the design and the movements of Shadow standing out as quite particularly impressive. The imaginative set pieces and the vibrant color palette of the film, on the other hand— covering Green Hills lush forests to Japan’s neon-lit streets- make it a feast for one’s eyes. Some flashback scenes, including Maria and Shadow, are, in particular, quite well done. It perfectly balances and blends the emotional weight with some stunning visuals.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Verdict: Fun Yet Flawed Sequel by Franchise
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is a movie that tries to do way too much. It wants to be the emotional and dark story about redemption and loss while continuing to deliver the similar family-friendly and goofy humor that made the 1st 2 films a success. While it does not always strike a balance, it is still an entertaining ride that perfectly delights the franchise fans. Keanu Reeves, in the role of Shadow, is a complete standout, and the action sequences of the movie are some of the best in the series. However, the overuse of the character of Jim Carrey and also the inconsistent tone, well, it all prevents the movie from reaching the full potential it could have otherwise.
For the game’s fans, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is the perfect love letter to Sonic The Hedgehog 2. It is packed with some nods and references, which makes the longtime players smile. For the newcomers, it is chaotic and fun, and it is a family film that delivers a lot of thrills and laughs. While the same might not be the best series entry, it does set a stage for the exciting future, especially with the post-credits scenes, which were tantalizing.
In short, the movie isn’t perfect, but it is a solid addition that is full of high energy and chaotic adventures.
