ANOTHER “GOLD RING” WIN
FOR TEAM SONIC
In 2022, the iconic “blue blur” geared up to headed back to the big screen with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which was to be the follow-up film to 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog. Directed by Jeff Fowler, the film, which starred Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Colleen O’Shaughnessy, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey, follows Sonic the Hedgehog and Tails, his new companion ally, embark on a journey to find the Master Emerald before it falls into the hands of the returned of Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his new accomplice, Knuckles the Echidna. Drawing inspiration from classic Sonic the Hedgehog SEGA games (Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic & Knuckles), Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which was released on April 8th, 2022, set several box office records for a video game film adaptation and received positive reviews from critics and moviegoers alike, who praised the performances and action sequences, and grossed over $405 million at the box office worldwide. The success of the film set in motion several series off-shoot to be greenlit, including a limited TV event titled Knuckles on Paramount+ in Spring 2024, and a third feature film, which was set to be release later that same year. Now, two years after the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Paramount Pictures (in association with SEGA) and director Jeff Fowler gear up for another cinematic adventure for everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Does this third installment prove to be another slam dunk when for SEGA’s famed mascot character or has the charm of these characters wore off in a redundant and tiresome movie franchise?
THE STORY
Sonic the Hedgehog (Ben Schwartz) is loving his life with his extended family, including sidekick companions Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnesseey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba), and foster parental guardians Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) sharing a celebration with the blue hedgehog anniversary of being on Earth with them. Breaking into their blissful peace is the agents of G.U.N., as Director Rockwell (Krysten Ritter) shares news that a new threat has broken out of a military base and is on the loose in Tokyo. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles answer the call and what they find in Tokyo is Shadow (Keanu Reeves), a black / red hedgehog who was locked up for 50 years and finally freed to face a new world without Maria (Alyla Browne), his only human companion from long ago. Experiencing Shadow’s incredible power, Team Sonic realize they need more help to defeat this new adversary, turning to one Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey) for support. However, Robotnik faces his own problems, reuniting with his grandfather, Gerald Robotnik (Jim Carrey), handling uncertain family issues as the elder man shares his connections to Shadow. As all parties move closer towards an endgame confrontation, Sonic learns the hard truth of doing the right thing, while Shadow learns to confront his past, fearing to be consumed by his anger.
THE GOOD / THE BAD
I can definitely say that I was a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Given my likeability to both the first film and to the character within its video game source material, there was doubt that I was looking forward to seeing what this 2022 sequel feature would bring to the table, especially since it was said that it was going to star the likes of Tails and Knuckles, two primary Sonic characters who were the original OG characters of the franchise as well as having actor Jim Carrey coming back to play Dr. Robotnik. Of course, I always have doubts about a sequel in which they always try to make everything better, yet failed to capture the same type of inherit magic that the previous entry was able to achieve. To its credit, however, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 proved (at least to me) that a sequel can be done the right way and almost outpace the original. Yes, I sort of did like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 better than the first Sonic the Hedgehog. I will admit that some of the character development and story progression was indeed better presented and arranged in the first Sonic film, especially when examining the character growth of both characters of Sonic and Tom Wachowski, but Sonic 2 was able to achieve a higher level of entertainment value, with more actions scenes, goofy comedy, and visual fan service that certainly pleased the fanboy in me. Plus, as mentioned above, I did find the inclusion of Tails and Knuckles in the movie to be the best element (both O’Shaughnesseey and Elba were incredible in the movie), especially since both characters go back to their roots and the story somewhat borrowed a few cues and bits from original SEGA games. I mean….the Master Emerald, the Death Egg robot, and the appearance of one Super Sonic…..all blew my mind. In the end, while having a few problems here and there, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was blazingly humorous, light on its visual toes, and engaging in its action flourishes that certainly kept me coming back to rewatch this movie every now and again.
This brings me back to talking about Sonic the Hedgehog 3, a 2024 action-adventure comedy film, the third installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series, and the follow-up sequel to 2022’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Given the amount of success the last film received from critical praise and box office results as well as the end credit Easter Egg scene that teased Shadow’s appearance, it was a forgone conclusion that third Sonic the Hedgehog outing was going to materialize in the near future, with the announcement coming shortly after the release of Sonic 2’s successful run at the box office. The announcement also highlighted that Fowler, the main director behind the first two Sonic features, would be coming back as well as many of the voice talents (Schwartz, O’Shaughnesseey, and Elba), and even better….Jim Carrey would be back to reprise his role of Dr. Robotnik once again. Then…. sometime later…it was announced that this third installment would feature Shadow the Hedgehog as one of the main antagonists for the feature and that actor Keanu Reeves would be voicing the character. From that alone, I was quite interested and excited to see this movie. However, after that, the project sort of went silent for quite some time. There were some mentions here and there and, beyond the talk of the Knuckles TV series on Paramount+, there wasn’t a whole lot of mentioning of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in the first half of 2024.
It wasn’t until the latter half of the year when the film’s marketing campaign began to ramp up, especially with the film’s movie trailers beginning to appear both online and in theaters. From the previews alone, this new movie looked to be quite promising, especially the appearance of Shadow and of Gerald Robotnik (aka two Jim Carrey characters). So, there is no doubt that I was looking forward to seeing Sonic the Hedgehog 3 when it was scheduled to be theatrical release during the holiday season (on December 20th, 2024). I did see it during the film’s opening weekend, but, due to my work schedule and falling a little bit behind on getting my movie reviews, I had to push back of getting my review done and completed for this sequel. Now, after punching out several other reviews out, I am finally ready to share what I personal thought about this Sonic sequel. And what did I think of this? Well, it’s another grand slam wing for the blue hedgehog…. that’s for sure. While maybe a few minor missteps, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a fun crowd-pleasing endeavor that has everything that made the previous two engaging and exciting and proves to be the best in franchise. In terms of ingenuity or innovation, it really doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but gives longtime fans what they want and the perfect iteration Shadow within Reeves’s performance.
Like before, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is directed by Jeff Fowler, whose previous directorial works includes the previous two Sonic the Hedgehog films (Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2) respectfully. Thus, given his overall familiarity of bridging this beloved video game character to life within the last two Sonic pictures, Fowler does seem like the man for the job in helming this latest sequel project for SEGA’s longstanding flagship character. As for a video game film adaptation, which is always heavily scrutinized by longtime fans and movie critics alike, Sonic 3 is actually really good and doesn’t get lost within its own undertaking, which is probably credited to Fowler’s seasoned experience of directing this franchise since 2020. Much like how last film took story cues from some of the original video games (i.e. Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic & Knuckles), Sonic 3 takes material from the 2001 game Sonic Adventures 2 in which Shadow makes his debut in the franchise. Thus, given that SA2 had plenty of storytelling elements (more so than the original SEGA games), it seems fitting to translate that plot narrative into this movie, with Sonic 3 doing just that and having more world building elements the movie’s introduction of Shadow as well as other characters like Maria and Gerald. Thus, Fowler gives fans that notion of staying somewhat true to the source material as well as giving plenty of fan service scenes that will surely delight many out there, including myself.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect that Sonic 3 has to offer is the darker tones that the feature delves into. As a whole, these films have been lighthearted, cute, and fun, which keeps very much in-line with how the character and story are mostly presented in the various video game releases over the years. Still, Fowler, while keeping that mind, does tread in some more darker elements this go around, which is mostly represented in the character of Shadow and his tragic backstory. It’s not a drastic contrast of lighthearted tones to more gravitas edginess that some might think of when I am talking about this, for Fowler does knows how to navigate such storytelling elements the right way and gives the feature a sort of balance with its lighter and darker moments. This, along with the script that was penned by Josh Miller, Pat Casey, and John Whittington, helps provide some thematic message and by ways and means of character reflection, which is noticeable between the differences of Sonic and Shadow; both of which are highly powerful alien hedgehogs that have two completely different upbringings / current life trajectories. This results in polar opposites in their personalities, which makes for a great hero and villain dynamic. Thematically, it’s a good and Fowler knows how to utilize it quite well in the film, finding merit and heart within Shadow’s backstory examination as well as Sonic’s frustration of being a team player. It’s basically handled with the “kid gloves”, so cautious parents out there shouldn’t be thrown off by mentioning of d ark tones. Still, it’s nice to see a somewhat type of thematic and maturity progression in this installment, which certainly does help pave the way for future installments that can go a little bit deeper than just a cute anthropomorphic alien / animal looking creatures populating the screen.
A lot of the returning elements of what made the previous two Sonic the Hedgehog movies so fun and engaging are back in rare form, with Fowler not looking to shape up the winning formula that much. In truth, the director reinforces of what fans of these movies are looking for and sort of pushes out several ideas that didn’t exact work in the last two films (i.e. certain characters have less screen time), which proves to be somewhat effective in Sonic 3….as a whole. Of course, the comedy aspect of these films has always been the “bread and butter”, especially since the target audience is, more or less, the younger crowd as well as longtime video game fans of Sonic. However, I’ve always been a fan of the more slapstick comedic gags and Sonic 3 certainly has that in spades. Many of the characters always have some type of humorous bits and / or lines to say and many of the comedic jokes and gags (albeit a juvenile at times) certainly land their intended target. Of course, Carrey’s iteration of Robotnik and Schwartz’s vocal works of Sonic continues to steal the show in this outing, but there are several other characters that get the limelight of dishing out some silly and goofy dialogue lines. This results in a lot of humor throughout the presentation, which is similar to the previous entries, but still proves to be quite effective, especially considering a lot of the film’s thematically darker tones that helps counterbalance everything the correct way.
Next, the film’s action scenes were pretty great and definitely had a lot of visual fun while watching these sequences play out. Yes, I will admit that some of these moments were a little bit too short lived and could’ve been easily extended, but what is presented definitely works and has plenty to offer in terms of visual aesthetics as well as character engagement. In addition, the movie does have a steady pace, which can be viewed as both a good or bad thing (more on that below), but, for the positives, it certainly does have a zippy pacing that keeps everything moving along and does keep the attention focus on what really matters when partaking to story and / or characters. Overall, I was quite pleased with how Sonic 3 turned out, with Fowler’s direction for this feature proving to be quite effective in perhaps the best entry to date.
In its presentation, Sonic 3 certainly carries the same type of visual aesthetics and background layout of that of its predecessor and definitely holds its own in today’s landscape of blockbuster-ish action set pieces. To be sure, Fowler sure does make the “look and feel” the same way that it did with the previous entry, with Sonic 2 having a balance of realistic locations mixed with some more fantastical ones. Thus, this movie follows that notion appropriately, with various set pieces and locales having that natural appeal of various cityscapes and military bunkers, while also showcasing futuristic / fantastic elements of laboratories and space stations. Everything, regardless of its property, looks fantastic in their own right, with intricate details and looking colorful and bright. Thus, the film’s “behind the scenes” key players, including Luke Freeborn (production design), Anna Lynch-Robinson (set decorations), Eleanor Baker (costume designs), and the entire art direction team for lending their talents and experience on this project and bringing the film’s world to life on the big screen.
Plus, the visual effects team should be praised in the feature, with plenty of colorful and detailed computer generated imagery that comes alive whenever on-screen. This, of course, helps build upon some of the more fantastical moments in Sonic 3, with the visual effect selling such grandiose imagery of effects and (to be sure) they never looked better. The level of polish and care placed on this project is worth it and shows that it does play a vital part in the film’s nature of storytelling without overpowering the core fundamentals of its characters. Thus, a good job all the way around for the various artist and designers in this category. Coinciding with this mention, the cinematography work by Brandon Trost, which helps build many dramatic scenes and sequences the correct way, presenting them with such fun and unique usage of camera angles and theatrical poise to make it the most cinematic Sonic movie to date. Great stuff! Lastly, the film’s score, which was composed by Tom Holkenberg (who had previously worked on the other two Sonic films) returns once again and delivers another great and terrific soundtrack for this project. Holkenberg knows how this franchise and knows how to present his musical composition the correct way from more lighthearted / comic moments to more rousing / bombastic action scenes. Also, as diehard fans will love, Sonic 3 would feature a particular song from Sonic Adventure 2 and it was great to hear it in the film’s epic climax part.
Unfortunately, there were some parts of Sonic 3 that didn’t go exactly to plan, with several points of criticism that I had with the feature. It didn’t derail the movie at all as I still enjoyed it immensely, but it was noticeable, with some problems being part of this film franchise since the begin. How so? Well, for starters, the film’s pacing does get a little bit too fast, moving rather quickly from one scene to the next. With so many characters and story threads being presented and jostling for the cinematic spotlight attention, Sonic 3 tries to do a lot within its runtime of 109 minutes (one hour and forty-nine minutes) and it sometimes the bites off more than it can chew. Several storylines could’ve been easily expanded upon and / or removed, while several characters could’ve been fleshed out more or just dropped altogether. This is sort of the problem with sequels, especially ones that tries to expanded their own film universe by adding new characters and keeping majority of the older ones. Try as he might, Fowler does a valiant job in trying to balance all of these spinning plates of ideas and characters, yet it comes up a bit short at times. Again, it’s not a deal breaker by any means unnecessary and that I do know that the movie is designed for the younger crowd demographic, but it would’ve been nice for the feature to stop and “smell the roses” every now and again in the runtime. What’s presented works, but could’ve been a lot better if there was more of a balanced pace in the film.
At the same time, however, Sonic 3 does have that feeling of dragging in the middle portion of the feature, which is something that has plagued the film franchise since the first one. This, of course, usually involves the human characters, who seem more secondary and make less of an impact in this sequel, but this particular sequence of events seems a bit superfluous and kind of sort of overstays its welcome. It’s almost like the wedding scene from Sonic 2…. it is cute and fun, but feels more like an extended detour that doesn’t feel go anywhere, which means it’s only there for padding out the film’s runtime. Additionally, Sonic 3 (story-wise) is still quite engaging and fun, especially with its more darker and maturer elements, but gets a little bit loss within its own visual action and blockbuster aesthetics. Looking at all three Sonic features, the first one has the best story within its presentation, which is a good balance of story, action, comedy, and characters. Sonic 3’s story is still great, but it still feels a bit limp in a few areas where such narrative pieces sort of take a back seat in favor of action moments and comedic bits.
What helps elevate those criticisms is in the acting talent involved in Sonic 3, with many familiar faces (and voices) coming back to reprise their character roles from the previous installments as well as several new ones who make their debut in the movie. Everyone involved knows what type of movie that is and, while their isn’t much great in-depths character development beyond several key players, certainly make the most of their time on this particular sequel and have fun doing so. In terms of voice acting for the features non-human characters, actor Ben Schwartz once again leads the charge in providing the voice for Sonic the Hedgehog, the film’s main protagonist. Known for his roles in Parks and Recreation, The Afterparty, and Space Force, Schwartz has always played such eccentric, goofy / comedy characters and made them his own. Of course, his work on the previous Sonic movie was great, with Schwartz making the blue hedgehog a great collection to his repertory body of work and providing the right amount comedic timing and hear to Sonic. As to be expected, Schwartz returns to playing the “blue blur” in this sequel as the actor easily slides right back into the role with effortless grace. As stated above, Sonic’s journey in the sequel isn’t as well-rounded nor wholesome as to what was experienced in the first movie, but Schwartz’s energetic fast-talking performance as the character definitely helps elevate those character underwhelm developments. There are, however, some great character conflicts within the main themes between the characters of Sonic and Shadow (as mentioned above) and I did like that, with Schwartz finding some more “meatier” substance as well showcasing the meaning of Sonic being a “team player” in amongst his other alien companions. In the end, whether you love him or find him annoying (I’m the former), Schwartz’s voice work for Sonic is solid and continues to make the character funny, endearing, and memorable in the movie.
After Sonic himself, the movie sees the return of the hedgehog’s two companions (Tails and Knuckles), who made their debut in Sonic 2, with the voice talents of actor Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation and The Wire) and actress Colleen O’Shaughnessy (Danny Phantom and Naruto: Shippuden) coming back to reprise their non-character voicework once again. Much as before, the character of Knuckles, a strong and tough marooned colored echidna, has some best and memorable lines of the Team Sonic group, with the film still presents the alien warrior as incredible strong yet still quite humorous. While, Sonic is the leader and has natural gifted speed, Knuckles is the musicle and strength, which the movie develops him into that role. Seriously, he has some of the best lines of the cast. Plus, Elba’s voice continues to perfectly matches Knuckles and still provides some of the best comedic lines in the entire film. He doesn’t get as much of strong character arc as he did in Sonic 2, but he is still a welcome addition to the roster of good guys. I just love Elba’s iteration of Knuckles.
Likewise, the character of Tails (or rather Miles “Tails” Prowler), a young fox with two tails who aids Sonic on his journey throughout the movie, comes back, with O’Shaughnessy continuing to deliver a youthful and fun voice for the character. Like Knuckles, Tails doesn’t have much of a story character arc in Sonic 3, who is now delegated to a side character companion, yet is still a vital importance in the grouping of Team Sonic. As before, Tails is still a lot of fun, energetic youthful and just full of surprises, with O’Shaughnessy, who has voiced Tails on several previous projects before, makes for a great foil against Schwartz’s Sonic and Elba’s Knuckles. As with the other characters, Tails fits into the role of the “tech genius” and comes up with various gadgets and the like to aid his friends, which fills out the remaining parts of Team Sonic.
Naturally, this brings up the last (and newcomer) to Sonic 3’s non-human characters in the form of Shadow, a red-striped black hedgehog that was part of a secret government program called “Project Shadow” and has lived through tragedy and seeks revenge, and who is voiced by actor Keanu Reeves. Known for his roles in The Matrix, John Wick, and Toy Story 4, Reeves is actor that who I have always liked and has shown throughout his entire acting career, even though he plays a lot of similar roles that worked within his monotone-esque style of voice. Thus, to have him participate in a Sonic movie and to play such a character like Shadow, who is always serious and has vengeance on his mind, is truly hilarious to have Reeves play such a role. Almost every scene he is in (Shadow I mean) is one that truly finds humor within his edgy bravado, with Reeves playing up those nuances in humorous of way of trying too hard to be serious. Think of it like his portrayal of John Wick with more goofy edginess to him. It definitely works for the movie and for the character, with Shadow matching perfectly for what the feature needs him to be. I’m sure that will please longtime fans of the video game. Yet, the movie does offer Shadow moments within a sympathetic light as sort of “opposite coin” to Sonic’s playful optimism. It definitely works for the film’s main theme / message and I think that Reeves nails it beautifully. Whether or not Shadow (or Reeves) will be a part of future Sonic projects, but, if he does, I would love to see them both back.
Of the human cast for Sonic 3 none is more hilarious and has the right balance amount of “larger-than-life” presences in the movie than actor Jim Carrey, who reprises his character role from the Sonic films as Dr. Robotnik. Known for his roles in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Bruce Almighty, Carrey has always been quite a comedic actor, with many of his roles being play up the talent’s strengths. Such was the case with his portrayal of Robotnik in the first two Sonic movies; hamming it up (in a good way) with such personal quirks and over-the-top tomfoolery goofiness. Well, Carrey is back, and he definitely brings that same type of comedic energy back in his reprisal of Robotnik and he’s in rare form; dialing up the over-the-top zaniness to whole new level. Yet, that’s a good thing and keeps Robotnik (as a character) interesting and hilarious to watch, with Carrey playing to his strength in making the character hilariously “moustache-twirling” evil, which is something that is called for in this Sonic movie and I personally think that Carrey nails it wholeheartedly; committed to make his interpretation of Robotnik humorous and fun at the same time. It is perhaps the most “unhinged” comedic performance of the character in amongst the three Sonic films and it certainly matches it in the correct way, with Fowler letting Carrey loose to do what he likes and it clearly shows that throughout the multiple improv moments. Still, Carrey’s Robotnik is perhaps the best element that these Sonic movies have and he (as a character / actor) is utilized extremely well in this latest outing.
Not only does Carrey play one character in Sonic 3, but he plays two, with his second performance coming in the form of Gerald Robotnik, Ivo’s grandfather and the head of Project Shadow. Playing two characters in the movie is not uncommon practice for several acting talents, but, for some like Carrey, it’s double the trouble and double the fun. As Gerald, Carrey channels a similar style of how he plays Ivo, but someone who is older and tougher generation. Thus, the dynamic between the two Robotniks’ is quite hilarious as Carrey knows how to play those particular characters within their very different / distinct personalities. It’s truly quite hilarious. Gerald’s appearance in Sonic 3 does give Ivo a somewhat a character arc to follow, with the younger Robotnik feeling lost and wanting to spend time with his elder, which does prove some supplement material for the feature’s main antagonist. Overall, while its uncertain if Carrey will be coming back for a future installment, but, if he does, I’m sure that everyone who loves him as Dr. Ivo Robotnik would be a welcomed one.
Returning once again to aid Robotnik on his journey is the character of Agent Stone, Ivo Robotnik’s loyal assistant, who is reprised once again by actor Lee Majdoub (Get Fast and Assassin’s Creed Mirage). Much like the previous movie, Majdoub plays up the faithful loyal angle of Stone’s character to Ivo, who shows a growing concern of being slightly ousted with the sudden appearance of Gerald. It’s amusing and fun as well as several lines that he mentioned to Team Sonic are a riot (one in particular with Tails). Majdoub knows how silly and sometimes heartfelt Stone could be and does a good job in demonstrating those moments perfectly. While only a sidekick character, Stone is still a strong character in this Sonic film franchise.
Unfortunately, beyond Robotnik and Stone, the returning human characters are significantly reduced in the movie and are limited due to how the feature presents its story. Of course, I am talking about the characters of Tom and Maddie Wachowski, Team Sonic’s adoptive human parental figures and residences of the small town of Green Hill, who are once again played by actor James Marsden (Enchanted and 27 Dresses) and actress Tika Sumpter (Southside with You and The Old man & the Gun) respectfully. Marsden and Sumpter are still solid in their character roles and certainly are clearly having fun coming back to this particular franchise, but their involvement (and overall screentime) in Sonic 3 is significantly reduced in the feature. Yes, it is a bit sad to see these two characters get pushed to the backburner, but that seemed to be the going trend, especially after Sonic 2 and with new characters come on-board….it was almost inevitable. Still, both Marsden and Sumpter are fun in their roles of Tom and Maddie Wachowski in this sequel. It is just a shame that they could’ve been more involved in the narrative.
The same can be partly said for the return of the character of Wade Whipple, the deputy sheriff of Green Hills, who is once again played by actor Adam Pally (Dog Days and Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life). Perhaps since Pally’s Wade got a lot character development and screen time in the limited TV series Knuckles there would be not whole of lot of reasons to make him a strong supporting character in this movie, which is already loaded with new and old character jostling for screen time. Thus, it is understandable (for character balance purposes) to showcase less of Wade in Sonic 3 and Pally still is fun in the movie. Yet, I kind of wished there was more to him in this project, who is reduced to more of a cameo-like appearance. The same can be also said for the returning character of Commander Walters, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff / leader of GUN, with actor Tom Butler (Chesapeake Shores and Rogue) reprising the role. While the character of Walters wasn’t really a big side character in the previous entries, his inclusion in Sonic 3 seems a bit least amount of screen time and doesn’t really amount to much beyond narrative exposition. Still, for continuity reasons, I was nice to see Butler come back to play Walters. As a side-note, actor James Wolk (You Again and Mad Men) does play a smart part in the movie as the younger version of Commander Walters via several flashback sequences.
Elsewhere, in a somewhat humorous return, is the characters of Rachel, Maddie’s sister, and Randall Handal, a GUN agent and Rachel’s husband, who are played once again by actress Natasha Rothwell (Wonka and Insecure) and actor Shemar Moore (The Young and the Restless and Criminal Minds). Like the Wachowskis, Rachel and Randall making a very minor appearance in the movie (and not exactly as what it appears to be), it was still amusing to see Rothwell and Moore coming back to this project and I would love to see them return in the next film….if possible.
The only other two important new side characters in Sonic 3 worth noting, with the first being Maria, a young teenage girl who becomes close friends to Shadow during his time in the secretive lab on Earth, and who is played by actress Alyla Browne (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga). Browne does a pretty good job in playing Maria, who brings out the more warmer and happier side of Shadow’s personality. There isn’t much of character development for her as she is only there (via flashback) is simply there to fill out Shadow’s personality, but Browne still manages to make for a pleasant iteration of Maria in the film. The other one, who is of lesser important by narrative comparison, is the character of Director Rockwell, a high-ranking officer in the GUN organization, and who is played by actress Krysten Ritter (She’s Out of Your League and Jessica Jones). Ritter is perfectly fine in the movie and have nothing good or bad to say about her character, but it does feel like there could’ve been something more done with her in the film. She’s presented as an opposition to Team Sonic’s mission at times and there does feel like she (Ritter) was going to play a larger role in the movie, yet nothing comes of it.
Lastly, Sonic 3 does have two post credit scene during the end credits sequence, with one miscredit one and at the very end. While I won’t spoil who or what happens during these two Easter Egg scenes, longtime fans of the video game franchise will surely love it and it certainly does get the stage for what is it to happen in Sonic the Hedgehog 4.
FINAL THOUGHTS
When a sudden disturbance occurs, Team Sonic springs into action, yet this latest threat proves to be the greatest challenge yet, with a new enemy and an old adversary teaming up in the movie Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Director Jeff Fowler’s latest film takes what he established in the previous two Sonic movies and uses that to build upon this third outing of SEGA’s famous mascot character and, by doing so, creating a solid piece that doesn’t break the mold of the franchise, but will surely delight its fanbase. While the movie does struggle in a few areas of pacing and storytelling as well as character management screen time, the film itself still rises above such challenges thanks to Fowler’s direction, several darker thematic tones, excellent comedic timing, engaging action scenes, a solid presentation, and fantastic cast across the board. Personally, I loved this movie. Yes, I will admit to some of its faults and criticisms that certainly hold the feature back from reaching its lofty expectations aims and goals, but, for the most part, I did sincerely quite enjoy this sequel’s presentation. The story was solid with plenty of morals to learn and darker tones, the comedy was hilarious (the best in the franchise so far), and the character themselves were still great as ever. So, which movie is my favorite Sonic the Hedgehog film? Well, while each one brings something different to the table, I will say that this installment is perhaps my favorite one, which for a second sequel film is kind of a good thing. Its fan service at its best and I’m sure longtime Sonic fans will certainly love this movie as much I did. Thus, my recommendation for this movie would be a favorable “recommended” one, especially for those who love the first two films, avid Sonic fans, and even causal moviegoers who are looking for some mindless distraction. Given the success that this movie has reached at the box office and the conclusion ending during the post credit scenes, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has been officially greenlit with a tentative release date set for March 19th, 2027. While details on the upcoming fourth installment are still quite vague, it’s a safe bet that many of the cast will come back to reprise their roles and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Team Sonic in next outing. For now, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a blast to watch, seeing the latest adventure of the “blue blur” engaging and fun within its visual action humorous antics, and blockbuster flourishes, which keeps the spirit of video game character intact while also speaking to a modern audience of its cinematic presentation.
4.1 Out of 5 (Recommended)
The Official Website for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Link: HERE
Released On: December 20th, 2024
Reviewed On: February 22nd, 2024
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is 110 minutes long and is rated PG for action, some violence, rude humor, thematic elements, and mild language
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