This holiday season join Sonic and the gang for a new thrilling adventure. Our JP give his thoughts on the third film, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.”
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
(Paramount Pictures)
- Directed by Jeff Fowler
- Screenplay by Pat Casey, Josh Miller, John Whittington
- Story by Pat Casey, Josh Miller
- Based on Sonic the Hedgehog by Sega
- Produced by Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, Hitoshi Okuno
- Starring Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Krysten Ritter, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves
Studio Synopsis:
Sonic the Hedgehog returns to the big screen this holiday season in his most thrilling adventure yet. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.
Director Jeff Fowler returns along with our all-star cast including Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, newcomers Alyla Browne and Krysten Ritter, with Keanu Reeves joining the franchise as Shadow the Hedgehog.
J.P.’s Take:
Sonic, that lightning-fast blue hedgehog, zooms into the third chapter with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” and I have to say, it’s a noticeable upgrade from the first two films.
You still get that same cheesy, family-friendly vibe, but this time, the plot dives deeper. As I pointed out in my “Sonic 2” review, we were introduced to a new character, SHADOW (voiced by Keanu Reeves). He’s like Sonic’s dark twin, looking similar but with a different color palette and a wicked agenda. Shadow’s story becomes the main focus for Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and Knuckles the Echidna (Idris Elba) as they face their most perilous mission yet.
In “Sonic 3,” we find Shadow locked up in a G.U.N. (Guardian Units of Nations) facility, where his backstory unfolds. He crashed to Earth in a meteorite back in 1974, and G.U.N. agents started experimenting on him. while discovering his incredible chaos powers. Shadow has never experienced love until he meets Maria Robotnik (Alyla Browne), the granddaughter of Dr. Gerald Robotnik (Jim Carrey). But then tragedy hits, igniting Shadow’s quest for revenge against humanity.
Admittedly, not every video game movie hits the mark, yet director Jeff Fowler and writers Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington have crafted a lively, sci-fi adventure that features Jim Carrey in two roles. They keep fans engaged with tons of game references and clever movie nods sprinkled throughout. The visuals are a treat for the eyes, bursting with neon colors, game-inspired gadgets, and wild vehicles. The story becomes a family affair as well, as Sonic’s surrogate parents get involved in the mission once again.
This trip is expectedly loaded with action, so much so that you might find yourself feeling a bit exhausted from all the battling and bouncing around. But hey, that’s the whole idea since it’s inspired by a video game that’s all about high-speed excitement.
Carrey nearly steals the show, as he plays both mad scientist Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his diabolical grandson Professor Gerald Robotnik. It’s the kind of classic Carrey antics you’d know from some of his best work of the ‘90s. He doesn’t disappoint.
The remainder of the cast reprised their roles (Natasha Rothwell as Rachel, Maddie’s sister), Shemar Moore (Randall Handel, Rachel’s husband who is an agent for G.U.N.), James Marsden (Tom Wachowski, the adoptive father of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and the sheriff of Green Hills, Montana), Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski, Tom’s wife, the adoptive mother of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles), and Idris Elba (Knuckles the Echidna). All of them give excellent bubbly performances. New cast mates include Kristen Ritter (Director Rockwell), Tom Butler (Commander Walters), James Wolk (young Commander Walters), and Browne (Maria Robotnik).
This game-turned-movie brings back those nostalgic vibes from classic video games. I had a blast watching “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and the cast’s wild energy was infectious. The vibrant visuals kept everything lively, and the action kept things rolling toward a fun conclusion. I giggled all the way through as well. Plus, just like a lot of superhero flicks, there are some end-credit scenes hinting at a possible sequel. Definitely worth checking out!
Official Site: Sonic the Hedgehog 3
