Product Info

Studio

Paramount

Director

Jeff Fowler

Genre

Action, Adventure

Rated

PG

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Dec 20, 2024

Film Length

1hr 50min

Purchase From

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 comes out blazing with more action, more Sonic, and more surprises for fans. The third film raises the bar to be one of the best video game movies today.

Double Trouble

© 2024 Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

The third film takes place after the events of the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie and the Knuckles television series. Things are peaceful until a mysterious figure awakens from a fifty-year slumber, Shadow (voiced by Keanu Reeves). Keanu Reeves does a great job capturing Shadow’s mysterious vibes. Shadow proves to be an overwhelming opponent for Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, so they turn to Dr. Robotnik (aka Eggman) (played by Jim Carrey) to not only stop Shadow but another villain who’s utilizing Eggman’s machines to cause havoc for the furry heroes. Things don’t look great for Sonic and friends, so they’ll need all the help they can get.

Superhero-style movies are predictable most of the time, and Sonic 3 is one of them. It’s easy to know where the story is going and how it’ll end, but Sonic fans will surely enjoy the journey and the battles between Sonic and Shadow. 

Playing the Role

© 2024 Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

Unlike the last film, Sonic 3 does a much better job giving the humans better roles and giving Sonic and team more screen time. For example, Tom and Maddie, Sonic’s human guardians, are side characters in this outing, but when they step in to aid Sonic, it feels just right.

The corny dialogue and scenes are still present in this family friendly film. Although nothing can compare to the spectacular dance-off from Sonic 2, the audience will bear witness to two Robotniks—grandfather Gerald and grandson Ivo (both played by Jim Carrey)—dancing in spandex-like suits. It’s funny at first, but the sequence goes on for far too long, wearing out its welcome.

Anyway, each character plays their role quite well and each is given enough screen time. Shadow’s past and the reasons for his thirst for vengeance, which are central to the movie, are no exception. If anything could be adjusted, more dialogue between Gerald and Shadow during this sequence or at least more from Gerald’s point-of-view on the occurrence that happened fifty years prior would have been great.

There’s plenty of action to see with Sonic and Shadow throughout the film, as well as some Mission Impossible style scenarios to prevent the planet from going down in a catastrophic event. The climactic battles also deliver a bigger impact than those in previous Sonic films. With a new Sonic movie already in the works before Sonic 3 comes to theaters, how will the next film top this one?

Playing in the 2000s

© 2024 Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

Those who’ve played the Sonic Adventure games will recognize several references in the movie. The cute Chao mascot characters first appeared in Sonic Adventure. Shadow and Gerald both made their first appearance in the 2001 game Sonic Adventure 2. Some of the dialogue from Sonic Adventure 2 made it into the script, too, and fans will eat it up. Moreover, Shadow’s motorcycle ride and gun-shooting are from the Shadow the Hedgehog game. There are more references, including scenes during and after movie credits, so fans will want to stick around to see them.

It’s also worth noting that the film goes beyond Sonic the Hedgehog game references. Pokémon and Pikachu are mentioned, for example, in a scene where Knuckles pokes fun at Tails being called a Pokémon. Another is an anime reference to Akira where Shadow does the motorcycle slide on Tokyo Tower. There are a slew of other references throughout the film, and one viewing won’t be enough for fans of the Sonic franchise.

Live and Learn

© 2024 Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

Sonic 3’s soundtrack also has some surprises that fans will recognize. The popular Sonic Adventure 2 song, “Live and Learn,” makes an appearance during one of the highlights of the film to fire up the audience, and especially Sonic fans.

Like previous Sonic films, Sonic 3 uses visuals that resemble its past games to animate the story of the film during the end credits. Instead of using pixels, the animation uses 3D polygons. It’s like seeing the progress of the Sonic franchise right before your eyes with this jump into 3D. The song used during this sequence, “Run It” by Jelly Roll, gives off a carefree and relaxing tune to enjoy alongside the animation.

The computer effects that give life to Sonic and friends are topnotch, making it look and feel like they are genuinely interacting with the real-world environment that surrounds them. The visuals for the big bads in the climax are especially striking, giving off that overwhelming feel of power.

The Final Run

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the best Sonic film yet and can be considered as one of the best video game movies to date. It caters greatly to Sonic fanatics, who will no doubt be craving for more after this outing. Gotta go fast to see this movie!

An early screening provided for this review. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theaters on Friday, November 20, 2024. Fans can visit the official website for tickets.