Video game movies have had a massive glow-up over the past few years, and this has been in part due to the success of the new Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise! Directed by Jeff Fowler, the third installment in the iconic video game franchise introduces a fan-favorite character in the form of Shadow, which has only heightened anticipation for the latest entry.
Like the previous entries, the film blends live-action and CGI characters seamlessly. The destructive effects, like explosions and the energy flowing off the characters, seem a lot more true to life, with a scene based in the fictional G.U.N. Headquarters in London, England, being a shining example of just how far the visual effects have come.
Ben Schwartz’s return as Sonic is as charismatic and whimsical as ever. His ability to be the life of the party one moment and then battle with internal anger and thoughts of spiteful revenge really shows the character’s growth from the goofy blue hedgehog fans fell in love with in the first movie. When it comes to internal battles, though, Keanu Reeves’ performance as Shadow the Hedgehog is by far one of the best in the video game movie realm. Anger, misery, and conflicting thoughts build a character that you first want to root against but quickly learn to love and cheer on as the film progresses.
Finally, Jim Carrey took on a double role during this film, playing both the returning Dr. Ivo ‘Eggman’ Robotnik and his grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. Like the previous films, both these characters are narcissistic in nature to begin with; however, Eggman quickly betrays his instincts and wants to form a loving family bond with his long-lost family, which lowers his guard enough to be used as a pawn in Gerald’s master plan.
As expected, the film is fast-paced and gripping from the start. Exploring themes of teamwork, betrayal, and conflict, Sonic 3 may be the most story-driven in the franchise, as its humorous jokes seem to take a back seat for a more gritty and impactful story.
As a whole, Sonic 3 takes everything from the previous two entries and builds upon it in a tasteful way. Shadow is probably the most interesting character to enter the franchise to date, and he gives off some much-needed relief from the overly comical style of the previous two movies. The question is, can Team Sonic keep up the momentum with the future fourth entry teased at the end of this movie?
