Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
The “Sonic” franchise is in full steam! On their third adventure, Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails discover a new hedgehog with dark and mysterious powers. This new threat poses a great issue for earth. They must seek out the help of Dr. Robotnik, an uneasy but necessary alliance in order to stop Project Shadow’s potential damage. Can they do it in time?
Positives:
Three movies in, the “Sonic” franchise knows what to give its audience. Much like the first two films, the third entry is a video game fan’s dream. There are plenty of winks and nods to the games throughout history. The colorful personalities of the characters shine, as Sonic is the kind hearted leader, Knuckles leans into his meathead personality, and Tails embraces his techy nature. The voice performances are all fun, with a special introduction to Shadow from Keanu Reeves. His voice fits perfectly, conveying the darker and broken nature of the character. I have to give Jim Carrey his credit too, acting as two Robotniks this time. He is the silliest version of the character yet, which will translate nicely for fans of the series. This new adventure moves at a breakneck pace, which will keep the attention of the younger viewers.
The film also has great visual effects, much like the previous films. This is definitely one to take the whole family to see during the holiday season in order to get the full experience. The colorful contrasts of each character provides many eye catching moments. Each of their designs are perfectly balanced to fit into live action. They blend in seamlessly to the environment they’re in. The level of detail in their animation is great, helping audiences enjoy their energetic and fun personalities. The action is also a blast, giving Sonic and his friends some fast paced fight sequences with Shadow.
Negatives:
While “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” will certainly please fans, it doesn’t do much to bring in anyone else. Much like the first two films, the main draw to these movies are the zany characters and dedication to gameplay details. The story isn’t the strongest and often has some rapid tonal shifts that bounce back and forth like a game of ping pong. I think the film is appropriately timed, but the pacing zips around with fast paced sequences to quick shifts of Shadow’s backstory. I also think parents might struggle to enjoy the film to the same degree as younger audiences might. The humor is tailored to young children, and unlike other animated films this year (Inside Out 2, The Wild Robot), there aren’t many relatable ideas for older audiences. The humor is unfortunately probably the weakest of the three films as well.
Conclusion:
Sonic’s third time on the big screen is a slam dunk for fans. Others? They may not relate to it as much. But I give the film credit for knowing its audience by giving younger viewers and fans of the game a story they will adore. The visual effects and action scenes are impressive. Unfortunately the humor is lackluster and the rapid pacing is occasionally distracting. While it might not be Sonic’s most memorable outing, fans of the game will have a blast. On this occasion, that’s perfectly fine!
