Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is finally in theaters. For about two and a half years, fans, both of the existing movies and the video games alike, have waited to see how Sega and Paramount would handle Shadow the Hedgehog. One of the most iconic antagonists in video game history was finally being brought to the big screen. It brings me great pleasure to say that Sega and Paramount have created something special, the ultimate movie (lifeform, if you will).
The Fast for Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Shadow
Shadow really deserves his own section here. Tasked with carrying the action and emotion in the entire movie, Shadow the Hedgehog proves more than capable. The character design, which was a marked improvement over the first glimpse of him back in Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘s post-credits scene, was flawless. His animations were impressive and distinct. Keanu Reeves deserves a shoutout as well for voicing him in a way that will be remembered. Shadow provides the best action sequences of a surprisingly well-choreographed movie and grounds everything with a genuine emotional arc.
Messaging
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a movie aimed at kids (though it’s broader-reaching than that). It ultimately doesn’t go too deep on any of the themes, as that would likely take it right over the audience’s head. But there are still very clear explorations of love, friendship, and loss. It’s surface-level, but I doubt anyone expected such poignancy from a movie like this.
Both Sonic and Shadow do a great job exploring these things throughout the breezy 1:50 runtime. There is a clear and concerted effort to tell audiences that love and friendship can be and are more powerful than grief. It is rather fitting that this movie comes out five days before Christmas. Who would’ve guessed the best reminder of what matters during the holiday season would be a black and blue hedgehog?
Action
I mentioned that Shadow carries the action in this movie, but that doesn’t do it justice. There are some jaw-dropping sequences, particularly the third act climax between Sonic and Shadow and Shadow’s introduction (both to audiences and Team Sonic). The climax features some of the best fighting all year, and there have been more than a few good action movies in 2024.
Post Credits
Without providing any spoilers, there are two post-credits scenes. One is after the stylized (and beautifully done) intro credit sequence, and the other is after everything rolls. They are both magnificent and tease what’s to come for this franchise. They are on par with prime Marvel movies, and there’s a strong possibility these don’t get left hanging. Stay through the credits. You won’t regret the extra few minutes spent in the theater.
The Slow for Sonic 3
Silliness
It is not lost on me that this movie has a young audience in mind, one much younger than me. There are definite moments included solely for children, just like there were in the previous films. Sega toned it down for this one out of respect for the emotional story that was being told, but there are still a lot of moments that swing well past silliness and almost into cringe.
Jim Carrey, for as much fun as he seems to be having hamming it up as two Robotniks, is responsible for some of the most egregious ones. There aren’t too many instances of emotional moments being undercut by silly jokes, which is good. That’s something far too many movies are guilty of, so credit is due to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for knowing when to let moments breathe.
Depth
I mentioned how Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was surprisingly poignant in its themes and messaging, but that they only scratched the surface. While the movie may be aimed at audiences too young for this sort of thing, they missed a few moments where they could have leaned well into it. No spoilers, but they opted not to let a certain character meet a certain fate when doing exactly that would have upped the stakes and provided some genuine emotion and backbone to a movie that was just begging for a little more.
In Conclusion
As I sat, partly in awe and partly waiting for the post-credits scenes, in the theater, I saw moviegoers of all ages. It was a packed house at 4:00 pm in not exactly a big city. Kids who were not remotely born when Sonic Adventure 2, the primary source material from the game franchise, were there. Some adults who grew up on the games were also there. People in both age ranges were dressed up for the movie like it was Spider-Man: No Way Home.
This movie and this franchise mean something to a lot of people, myself included. The first Sonic movie remains the only movie I’ve seen twice in one day in theaters (a story for another day). It has evolved beyond a cute story and into a powerhouse franchise. It’s one that might have broken the video game adaptation curse, and the team making it knows that. They have leveled up, pun intended, their filmmaking and storytelling. That is clear in this movie.
It’s not perfect and it’s aimed at an audience that doesn’t necessarily include me anymore. But does that really matter when watchers of all ages are reduced nearly to tears over two anthropomorphic hedgehogs? For all the movie stumbles in, it excels in enough aspects to overcome those flaws.
Score: 4/5
