Director: Josh Fowler
Writers: Pat Casey, Josh Miller, John Whittington
Stars: Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Keanu Reeves
Synopsis: Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance.
It’s been the norm that every movie franchise is also a movie universe. It’s refreshing to have one that’s just building just a single world with each subsequent film. It’s true that earlier this year Paramount+ had “Knuckles,” a limited series following the titular echidna warrior on his own adventure, but, for the most part, the universe of Sonic the Hedgehog has remained small and cinematic. Each installment builds on the last to create a satisfying experience just as the ideas seem to be wearing a little thin.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a lot like Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Sonic (Ben Schwartz) is tasked with tackling a new furry foe being aided by evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Sonic learns about teamwork, family, believing in himself, and that with great power… yada, yada, yada. It would be tiresome, but the formula works for a reason. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has enough backstory and exposition that a casual moviegoer could walk in and catch up with the story quickly. The film is the way it is so that Sonic isn’t driven by a need to destroy his antagonists, but to change their hearts. It’s a good message and one that strikes at the hearts of those of us who understand the power of a chosen family.
It also helps that the special effects just keep getting more glorious. The fuzz on each of the creatures looks so authentically soft that it makes you want to reach out and run your fingers through it. The running sequences continue to impress, but Shadow’s (Keanu Reeves) teleportation is an awesome sight to behold. The fights are grand in scale and for a film that has world ending weapons in play, manages to reduce the human collateral damage of the biggest showdowns.
It is easy to forget the human characters in the midst of the adorable and fearsome animated characters at the heart of the story, but they pop themselves in in surprising ways. James Marsden has always had comedic chops, but he pulls off being the heart of the story as a great paternal figure for his otherworldly charges. Sometimes sidelined in the other two films of the franchise, Tikka Sumpter gets more into the action this time around and it’s wonderful. The two of them look like they’re having a blast and have great chemistry together. Though, neither can hold a single candle to the double performance of Jim Carrey.
Jim Carrey has carried this franchise on his back since the first film. It’s not a detriment either. The fact that he is what you should be watching is exactly how the character of Robotnik should be played. He steals every scene and chews scenery like gum, blowing it into a glorious bubble and popping to create something grander than you ever thought possible. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Carrey does a feat we always hoped he could. He pulls off a double performance acting opposite himself as Gerald Robotnik, his character’s grandfather. With modern technology, the parallel scenes are seamless. So seamless that the best scene in the film is between Carrey and Carrey.
The two Robotniks stand at a laser field in protective suits that reflect the lasers to make them harmless. In celebration of their genius, the two mad scientists decide to dance to their final destination. When you read dance, you should know that this isn’t just a couple of guys doing the running man down a laser filled hallway, it’s a full on, choreographed spectacular. The moves are synchronized and stylized perfectly. Director Jeff Fowler, editor Al LeVine, and the entire visual effects crew have made something utterly enthralling and even as it’s so far out there, it is a perfect fit to the world that’s been created in spite of its complete arbitrariness to the plot.
It’s easy to praise Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for its visual innovations and style even if its story and some of the humor leave much to be desired. The film is a four quadrant movie so it can’t be too complex, but it would have been nice if the writers had stretched themselves a little farther. Here’s hoping Sonic the Hedgehog 4, because there will be a 4, will attempt to race through some new ground because this franchise is one of the more enjoyable out there in spite of its flaws.
