Review: Nev Pearce
Over the past 30 years, there have been many video game adaptations to the silver screen. Street Fighter, Double Dragon, Doom, and countless others have failed due to a lack of respect for and understanding of the source material (though, as cheesy and bad as they are, I still have a soft spot for the original 90’s Super Mario Bros. and Mortal Kombat movies).
Enter Sonic the Hedgehog in 2020, a film that took the world by surprise and made a significant profit at the box office during a time when cinema was struggling due to the pandemic. The film took a beloved video game character, who had previously only been adapted into a much-loved animated series and successfully brought him to life with an incredible cast, humor, and heart—leading to a sequel in 2022 and a streaming series based on Knuckles the Echidna.
Sonic 3 picks up where we last saw our heroes—Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles—living their best lives with their adopted family, Tom and Maddie Wachowski (played by James Marsden and Tika Sumpter).
On a family camping trip, they are interrupted by government agents from G.U.N. (Guardian Units of Nations) led by Director Rockwell (Krysten Ritter), who seeks their help against a new threat: Shadow the Hedgehog (voiced perfectly by Keanu Reeves). The team must then join forces with their arch-nemesis, Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik (played by Jim Carrey, who was believed to be dead after their previous battle in Sonic 2), and his long-lost grandfather, Gerald Robotnik (also played by Carrey in a dual role), who seems to have nefarious plans of his own!
While the trio of heroes—Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and Knuckles (Idris Elba)—bring lighthearted banter and color to the film, it’s Shadow’s heartbreaking backstory that gives weight and depth to it.
Keanu Reeves was born to play Shadow. There is a depth and sadness he brings to the role with his vocal performance, making you feel for the character and what he has been through. At times, it’s quite emotional.
Jim Carrey is also a blast, doing what he does best in the dual role of both Robotnik and his grandfather Gerald. Playing opposite himself is a joy to watch, and he is so damn good at it that you often forget it’s Carrey bouncing between the two characters. With some great one-liners and punchlines, his performance is a highlight.
One of the most impressive elements of the film is its animation. It is beautifully crafted and breathtaking on the big screen, especially during the climactic final battle. The film also does an excellent job blending live-action and animated characters, showcasing how far the technology has come over the years. If done correctly, as in this case, it suspends your disbelief that an anthropomorphic cartoon hedgehog can run around in the real world and interact with real people, even with the faithful game design of big anime eyes and white oversized gloves.
The film is a heck of a lot of fun. It not only ramps up the action and the laughs but also the heart, making it a must-see for the holidays—not just for families, but also for old-school gamers like me who grew up spending hours with the blue hedgehog and his pals.
My suggestion is to put on your red shoes and run, don’t walk, to see the film this Boxing Day. I know I’ll be going back for another round—and many more films in the franchise—if they keep them coming!
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opens Boxing Day
