Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) is directed by Jeff Fowler and stars Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, Keanu Reeves, Idris Alba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Lee Majdoub, Krysten Ritter, Adam Pally, Alyla Browne, Tom Butler, Natasha Rothwell, and Shemar Moore. The film follows Sonic (Schwartz) and his friends as they face off against a seemingly unstoppable force in the form of Shadow (Reeves), a fellow alien hedgehog who escapes a government research facility after being trapped in cryosleep for 50 years. Severely overmatched, Sonic’s team seeks help from the one man they never thought they’d have to turn to: Dr. Robotnik (Carrey). Unfortunately, this ushers the arrival of another powerful villain with ties to Robotonik and Shadow’s past. In more danger than ever before, Sonic and his friends lay it all on the line to save the world at least one more time. 

The performances from the returning cast are consistent in quality with the previous films. Still, it’s nice that the voice actors specifically feel a tad more comfortable/natural. There’s not a single voice actor who feels miscast and the ones who did previously have improved significantly. The addition of Keanu Reeves as the voice of Shadow feels like a no-brainer casting choice and although I was initially hesitant that the character would feel too similar to Knuckles, I was quickly proven wrong. Yes, he’s another villain who we all know will eventually have a change of heart by the end of the film, but that’s where the similarities end. The script does a great job of fleshing out Shadow’s complicated backstory as well as the way his journey often parallels those of Sonic and Robotnik. It’s nothing Oscar-worthy, but in the context of a children’s video game adaptation, it’s impressive character writing. 

Like the first two films, Carrey’s unhinged portrayal of Robotnik is often the best part. However, what’s truly impressive is that the writers find a really creative way to double down on his inclusion. The second film gave his character more to do, but this movie goes even further and gives us two Robotniks. The thing is, it doesn’t just feel like a cheap comedic gimmick. Yes, it leads to some hilarious jokes, but it also affects the character in more serious ways than I wasn’t expecting. Unlike the first two films, the viewer is able to feel sympathy for the character. That being said, they toe the line perfectly and humanize him without sacrificing the villainous mania which makes him so much fun. 

With more characters being added with each installment, I was worried that this would be the entry that would finally feel overstuffed. Thankfully, the film strikes a perfect balance in terms of focus. The CGI characters take on a much bigger role compared to the first two films (which makes sense considering the actor’s strike), but it’s a welcome and fitting shift. That being said, the few moments we do get with the human cast are a ton of fun and make up for the fact that they’re few and far between. Even if it’s short, every character gets their moment to steal the show.

The jokes are a tad more hit-and-miss than the previous film, but other than that, it’s an improvement in terms of action, character, story, and visuals. Although this is still a franchise aimed at families/kids, the stakes are more dire and the tone is notably darker. I shouldn’t be surprised this is yet another step up in terms of quality. From the first installment, it was clear that the team behind these films loves this franchise and cares about making great experiences for fans to enjoy.

Overall, this is easily the best of the three Sonic films and by default is one of the best video game movies I’ve ever seen. It’s rare to get one good sequel let alone a second one, so this is an easy movie to appreciate. It won’t appeal to anyone who hasn’t already been won over by the first two films, but it’s a treat for anyone who’s stuck with the franchise. It still has its issues, but complaining about a movie of this surprising quality just seems like Scrooge behavior during the holiday season. B