Sonic 3 doubles down on Jim Carrey to deliver one of the year’s best family flicks
Paramount Pictures
The first thing to be said about Sonic 3 is that it’s a big dumb flurry of fun. That’s capital D and capital F. While it does stretch some comedic beats a bit too far, it’s the kind of exciting family spectacle that used to rule the summer box office. The action is kinetic and colorful. The heroes are worth cheering for and feature distinct personalities. There are greater lessons about being true to oneself and holding the ones you cherish close. That might sound a bit saccharine to some, but there’s an earnestness behind series director Jeff Fowler’s work that makes it winsome.
Picking up not too long after the events of Sonic 2, this latest adventure begins with the trio of heroes enjoying a camping trip. Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessy), and Knuckles (Idris Elba) have settled in nicely as the adoptive family of Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) Wachowski. Their idyllic peace is interrupted by the appearance of G.U.N. director Stone (Krysten Ritter), who needs their assistance.
It turns out that a dangerous alien hedgehog named Shadow (Keanu Reeves) has escaped from cryosleep, after 50 years. Consumed by a hatred for humanity, he leaves a wave of chaos everywhere he goes. To even the odds, “Team Sonic” is forced to align with longtime enemy Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey). An alliance that’s almost immediately tested when they run a fowl of his long-lost grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik (also Carrey). Not only is he responsible for Shadow’s release, but has nefarious plans that not even the strongest of heroes may be able to stop.
Where things sag a little is the same issue that plagued the other two films: giving too much screentime to the humans. In Sonic 2, this took the form of an extended Hawaiian wedding subplot. Here, the issue tests Carrey’s double shoulders. Doubling down on his “zaniness” becomes an exercise in patience—one that might even push kids to the brink.
Making it all worthwhile, though, is Shadow. Video game movies often struggle when it comes to making characters fit another medium, but the anti-hero’s big-screen debut is fantastic. His entire backstory is adapted wonderfully here. Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow The Hedgehog fans are in for a treat. Taking a -from the outside- sinister character and making his motivations understandable and justified, to a degree, is a feat in and of itself. It’s such a simple decision to make sure and get this right, and it makes Sonic 3 something special. Not to mention Reeves is cast oh so perfectly in the role, with his vocal timbre balancing gruff and soulfulness in equal measure.
To many the fact that Sonic The Hedgehog has lasted three films is surprising. Sure, they have obligatory fart jokes or moments of fan service, but beyond that is a desire to tell a good story. Finding a way to meld those two elements into something special isn’t an easy feat.
Paramount Pictures
