The success of Sonic as a cinematic hero can be considered one of the biggest surprises in the modern entertainment industry. When Paramount Pictures first revealed Sonic's design in 2019, the reaction was overwhelmingly negative, with many expressing shock and disappointment. It seemed that we were going to get another subpar video game adaptation. However, the filmmakers took the necessary time to completely overhaul Sonic's design. Although it cost several million dollars, the final result was definitely worth the effort.
Sonic the Hedgehog became the beginning of a successful film series enjoyed by both adults and children. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 continues to showcase this in a delightful way.
| Name | Sonic The Hedgehog 3 |
| Genre | Science Fiction, Adventure, Film Based on Games |
| Director | Jeff Fowler |
| Cast / Roles Voiced | Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Krysten Ritter, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves |
| Studios | Paramount Pictures, Sega Sammy Group, Original Film, Marza Animation Planet, Blur Studio |
| Running Time | 1 hour 50 mim |
| Year | 2024 |
| Sie | IMDb |
Sonic the Hedgehog (voiced by Ben Schwartz) continues to live in the human world with his friends, Tails (voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba). They enjoy their time together, but aren't quite a team yet. However, their teamwork is about to be tested when a mysterious hedgehog, Shadow (voiced by Keanu Reeves), causes chaos and destruction, posing a global threat. Only Sonic and his friends can face this danger.
[caption id="attachment_269354" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]
An image from the movie "Sonic The Hedgehog 3[/caption]
While Sonic The Hedgehog games often boast grand and epic storylines, the coherence of scripts and the progression of events tend to be the weakest aspect of the video games. However, fans and even casual players are willing to overlook these shortcomings for the unique gameplay and, more importantly for this review, the enjoyable interactions between the characters. The filmmakers understood this in the second part and, in the third, amplified the chemistry between the main characters several times over
[caption id="attachment_269362" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]
An image from the movie "Sonic The Hedgehog 3[/caption]
Watching Sonic's verbal banter with his friends is nothing short of enjoyable. Each character can be easily categorized into a specific archetype, making it easier for children to differentiate them and focus on the story. Yet, these characters still possess depth, with some scenes offering completely unexpected moments. "Sonic The Hedgehog 3" / Sonic The Hedgehog 3 can be considered one of the best examples where catering to a child audience perfectly blends with adult themes and motifs.
The villains take center stage in the final part of the movie. Shadow, in particular, epitomizes the word "edgy," reacting to everything with a dark arrogance and detachment. However, even in this somewhat caricatured character, there is a charm. Especially when you learn what ultimately led Shadow to his destructive actions.
[caption id="attachment_269360" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]
An image from the movie "Sonic The Hedgehog 3[/caption]
Keanu Reeves' voice fits such a character well, as the actor is also often seen as somewhat brooding, but with a huge heart. However, the Ukrainian dubbing significantly detracts from the film's charm. It's a rare case where the excellent school of Ukrainian voice acting and translation has worked more against the film.
Jim Carrey continues to shine as the star of Sonic The Hedgehog 3, as in the previous installments. In this new film, he plays two characters: the already familiar Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. Each scene with them is brimming with Carrey's charisma, and the characters themselves are fundamentally different. Additionally, their dynamic leads to one of the funniest jokes of 2024 movies.
[caption id="attachment_269352" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]
An image from the movie "Sonic The Hedgehog 3[/caption]
The direct storyline takes a back seat, focusing instead on the excellent character development. It fulfills its main purpose — to actively throw the characters from one unusual situation to another. There's even a nod to the Mission: Impossible series, meaning not only do the locations change, but also the conditions in which Sonic and his friends must operate. So, boredom is unlikely.
However, when the film tries to build serious drama, it feels overly artificial. Ironically, much like in the video games, which, to some extent, makes the overall viewing experience enjoyable. Fortunately, the creators of Sonic The Hedgehog 3 devote relatively little time to dramatic moments. As a result, they manage not to heavily tilt the emotional balance during viewing.
[caption id="attachment_269358" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]
An image from the movie "Sonic The Hedgehog 3[/caption]
Special praise goes to the film's team for how effectively they utilized the lore of the video games. The movie is filled with references for a wide variety of tastes, yet it cleverly adapts familiar moments, subverts audience expectations, and constantly rewards fans for their knowledge.
On the other hand, even without prior knowledge of the games, you'll enjoy the viewing experience and not miss anything critical from the story being told by the creators.
Furthermore, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 looks and sounds fantastic. The film's technical execution shows a noticeable influence from anime, which, in the context of Sonic’s new story, is only a plus. All action scenes are pure enjoyment.
[caption id="attachment_269356" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]
An image from the movie "Sonic The Hedgehog 3[/caption]
Of course, there were post-credits scenes hinting that Sonic won’t be leaving theaters anytime soon. A new installment is already in production. However, if its quality matches or surpasses the third installment, no one will be disappointed.
P.S. The human characters in Sonic The Hedgehog 3 don’t distract or annoy, which is rare for any story involving anthropomorphic animal characters. And that’s a significant plus.