Sonic the Hedgehog 3, 2024.
Directed by Jeff Fowler.
Starring Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves, Krysten Ritter, Lee Majdoub, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Shemar Moore, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Alyla Browne, and James Wolk.
SYNOPSIS:
Sonic, Knuckles and Tails reunite to battle Shadow, a mysterious new enemy with powers unlike anything they’ve faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, they seek out an unlikely alliance to stop Shadow and protect the planet.
There’s a real danger with video-game adaptations that following the billion dollar success of Super Mario Bros., and the 700-odd million worth of gold rings that this franchise has collected since spinning onto the big-screen in 2020, that the genre would become reliant on get-rich-quick IP cash-grabs. Do it right and you end up with a Detective Pikachu (why no sequel has been green-lit is almost criminal), but if you don’t blow into the cartridge enough you end up sat watching Borderlands.
Sonic and its sequel were hyperactive, fun, family films, but you wouldn’t say that the desire to insert coin straight away was an immediate one, and it’s hard to remember much about them. Director Jeff Fowler appears to acknowledge that this third outing needs to be more than just Sega fan-service and Ben Schwartz one-liners, and in doing so propels the franchise to unexpected new heights.
There is a lot that remains the same; Sonic is still a bit of a smart-arse, although the ratio of his jokes that land this time around is a lot higher (who would of thought a Casper the Friendly Ghost gag would get a belly-laugh in 2024?), with the comedy feeling more knowing and self-aware. The film also opens at such a breakneck speed, befitting of the titular ericius, that you worry this might just be another pixelated procession, solely relying on brand recognition to put bums on seats, lacking in any depth, and simply not needing to try. I know, I know, it’s a Sonic the Hedgehog movie, and maybe it’s not the platform for such lofty expectations. We can but hope.
However, such seemingly unattainable aspirations are delivered and surpassed, much in the same way as many a superhero movie, for that’s what this is, by the villains. Ostensibly Sonic 3 is a Jim Carrey movie, with the out-of-retirement actor giving a glorious, peak-performance as the returning Dr. Robotnik. It’s an unhinged, giggle-inducing reminder of what made him one of the biggest box-office draws of the 90s, one that runs the full career gamut of The Cable Guy (think the hilarious Medieval Times fight), Ace Ventura, and his film-consuming turn as The Riddler in Batman Forever. Carrey hasn’t felt this invested in years, and his laser-beam dance-off to The Chemical Brothers ‘Galvanize’, rivals anything seen in Oceans Twelve.
The film’s second power-up comes in the form of Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog, the super-serious antithesis of our heroic hog, who is introduced like Jason Bourne, and delivers his lines with a weight that makes John Wick seem upbeat. Reeves plays the antihero with a solemness that initially feels at odds with the colourful array of creatures whizzing around him cracking jokes, but then the script backs him up with a surprising and truly heartfelt narrative arc. Without delving into spoilers, there’s a touch of the Toy Story in Shadow’s journey, and it’s emotionally rewarding in a way that catches you off-guard. I know, I know. It’s a Sonic the Hedgehog movie.
Introducing a new villain, as well as having a double-dose of Carrey, mean that even though this is touching two-hours, some characters still get short shrift. Knuckles had his own Paramount+ spin-off, so Idris Elba shouldn’t be too miffed that he takes a back seat this time around, while James Marsden and Tika Sumpter are given a few funny moments, but ultimately serve to bookend the story. It’s Krysten Ritter who feels completely wasted as the nefarious Director Rockwell, seemingly here to facilitate the pursuit of a world-ending MacGuffin and little else.
While we’re on what drives the action, it is a little tiresome to again see something ominous emerge from beneath the ridiculously clean looking River Thames, but once the mechanics of the final set-piece kick in, Sonic 3 thrusts into high gear with a thrillingly orchestrated finale that feels like a combination of Mission: Impossible and Star Wars, while never forgetting to punctuate the visual flourishes with a gag.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 levels up the quality of the series to easily become the best installment in the franchise so far. It’s frequently hilarious, with a superb turn-the-clock-back performance from Jim Carrey, and it’s all buoyed by a surprising amount of heart.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film ★ ★ ★ / Movie ★ ★ ★ ★
Matt Rodgers – Follow me on Twitter