Imagine you lose everything.
Would you go down the path of vengeance, inflicting the same pain you experienced on others, or move forward?
I have to say, I wasn’t expecting an epic fight between two alien hedgehogs to deal with this heavy moral dilemma, but I am very glad it did.
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” was released in theatres on Dec. 20, 2024. It was produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by Jeff Fowler. The film stars Ben Schwartz as the iconic blue hedgehog, Sonic, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails and Idris Elba as Knuckles.
After saving the world two times in a row against the maniacal plans of Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnick, played by Jim Carrey, Sonic and his team finally think they have time to rest and enjoy life as a family. That is, until the special government force G.U.N. assigns them to a new mission: Find and capture Shadow, played by Keanu Reeves, a dangerous alien hedgehog that has broken out of containment.
The Sonic films have always been quite unique to me, being original enough so you don’t have to be a Sonic fan to understand them, yet faithful enough to the original games’ lore so they don’t feel entirely untethered. They’re funny, heartwarming and all give great storytelling, plus, the main character being an alien blue hedgehog that has super speed is pretty awesome.
“Sonic 3” definitely follows suit, and, dare I say, is the best out of the three films.
Shadow felt like the most serious antagonist the films have ever seen, coupled with the now two Dr. Robotnicks. In this film, the recurring antagonist “Eggman,” better known as Dr. Robotnick, finds his long-lost grandfather: Dr. Gerald Robotnick. Jim Carrey is an absolutely fantastic, maybe insane (in a good way), actor. Watching him play the two villains was an experience for sure; you can see how much of his heart he put into his roles and how much fun he had with them.
An actor that surprised me was Keanu Reeves, who I never expected to take on the role of Shadow. I think he did a good job with the voice acting, especially regarding the more emotional scenes. Shadow’s backstory and drive for revenge is one of the most pulling parts of the film and it was executed splendidly. The parallels between him and Sonic throughout the movie were also something I really enjoyed seeing. They both experienced loss early in their lives, but while Sonic decided to be hopeful for the future, Shadow only dwells on the past. Their big fight is one of the best parts of the movie and the most impactful.
The overarching themes of family and dealing with loss were especially present in this addition to the franchise. Since the first film, Sonic’s found family with Tom, played by James Marsden, and Maddie, played by Tika Sumpter, has always been heartwarming. Shadow’s bond with Maria started his whole journey in this film. Even the laughably strange grandson and grandfather relationship between the two Robotnicks added to this theme of family. This movie is about protecting those you care for and sometimes accepting that not everyone you love stays in your life forever. But at the end of the day, there’s always someone on your side.
My favorite parts were undoubtedly the action sequences. Scenes like team Sonic fighting together and Shadow’s motorcycle ride were amazing to watch. While watching the film, I’ve never been so glad the “ugly Sonic” design from 2019 got trashed. The CGI was a chef’s kiss, looking real yet cartoony simultaneously. Special effects in action films like this one are extremely important and I’m glad to say “Sonic 3” pulled it off again, bigger and better.
Sonic fan or not, I wholeheartedly recommend watching this movie. You’ll definitely laugh, probably cry and at the end of the day, go running back to the theatre for more.
