Director Jeff Fowler returns to helm the second cinematic sequel to the spiky franchise. Here’s our Sonic The Hedgehog 3 review.
When the first trailer for Sonic The Hedgehog emerged in 2019, there was reason to be concerned. Videogame adaptations already had a dodgy reputation and Sonic’s horrific look, complete with disturbing, human-like teeth, made us question if the film was going to be a complete stinker.
After some expensive redesigns, Sonic The Hedgehog premiered in 2020 and was a pleasant surprise, as was its 2022 sequel. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 keeps the franchise family-friendly and plays things a little too safe, even if it admirably tries to introduce bigger, heavier themes.
We won’t waste too much time explaining the plot – that’s what Google is for – but here are the basics: Shadow, another hedgehog who has been in stasis for 50 years, suddenly comes alive and begins to wreak havoc using Ivo Robotnik’s (Jim Carrey) stolen robots. This prompts Sonic, Knuckles and Tails to ask Robotnik for help, but the appearance of his grandpa (also Carrey) complicates things. Cue big action scenes involving CGI hedgehogs.
Shadow, voiced by the incomparable Keanu Reeves, is basically an angst-y, emo version of Sonic, to put it in simplified terms. This will likely excite my fellow Millennials, but Shadow truly is a great addition to the franchise, giving it some much needed weight. Sonic fans are likely already familiar with Shadow’s tragic backstory and Sonic 3 does dive into it, but the effect is weirdly muddled. Despite having all the right ingredients here, Sonic 3 comes out a little flat and bland, much like my attempts at making sourdough bread.
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It’s not that Sonic 3 is bad. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Director Jeff Fowler ambitiously tries to tackle bigger, more serious themes while still serving the franchise’s usual jokes. There’s a distinct sense that if one were to slightly rearrange the film’s scenes, giving Shadow’s backstory more room to breathe and a bit of focus, Sonic 3 would be more effective, especially emotionally.
There’s still plenty of laughs to be had with Sonic 3. The voice cast remains excellent and Reeves is a fantastic addition to the lineup. His take on Shadow is faithful to the character’s angry origins, but with an abundance of soul and heart. Idris Elba, an inspired piece of casting for Knuckles, also remains a particular highlight, even if Knuckles and Tails are very much on the sidelines of the story. Additionally, if you like Jim Carrey’s style of comedy, then Sonic 3 has heaps of that and he even gets a pretty groovy dance scene. If you’re not a fan of Carrey, Sonic 3 might prove a little insufferable.
Even with its flaws, Sonic 3 is a heartfelt, perfectly fine sequel. The story and characters had the potential to make this the best entry in the trilogy, but it’s a little short on fulfilling all that potential. There was a better film to be made with little tweaks, but in a world where videogame adaptations are still hit and miss, we’re lucky to have something as solid and lovely as the Sonic The Hedgehog trilogy.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is in cinemas 21st December.
