Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review: The Movie Fans Have Been Waiting For

Going into the preview screening, my expectations for the third Sonic film were exceptionally high. After all, director Jeff Fowler’s take on the universe has improved dramatically from 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog and its 2022 sequel, and Shadow’s compelling origin story is hard to misunderstand.

I am happy to report that my faith was not misplaced. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 not only contains some of the best elements of the source material, Sonic Adventure 2, but also adds to the world with thoughtful details that make its impact even greater.

Minor spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, with specific details revealed in the aforementioned trailers

The third installment in the Sonic film series has finally picked up the pace. From the first shot we are drawn into the chaotic world of Shadow. Even when the story needs to move quickly (no pun intended), the handling is tongue-in-cheek and shows how the creators are often aware of the wild plot they’re cooking up.

Like the game that inspired it, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 shifts the tone to a slightly darker tone, while keeping some classic, kid-friendly jokes that will please younger fans. There are even some throwaway lines for the adults in there, especially all the other pop culture nerds.

Lighthearted humor comes from Team Sonic, which is stronger than ever. Ben Schwartz brings a slightly more idiosyncratic touch to the Blue Blur this time, a reflection of his growth on earth and his step into the role of leader.

Paramount Photos

Complementing his performance are Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails and Idris Elba as Knuckles, who return to their roles with equal charm. They both get moments to shine, despite the extra cast members.

Meanwhile, the film adds more emotional depth as it explores Shadow the Hedgehog’s origin story, which is fleshed out more than ever before. The additional material draws the audience to Shadow’s side and makes the events of his past with Maria Robotnik even more heartbreaking.

Keanu Reeves was dream casting for Sonic fans, and for good reason. Shadow’s deep voice is hard to get right – it can veer into snarky ‘edge lord’ territory very quickly. Reeves has no such problems and delivers a masterful performance that handles the emotional, devastating and surprisingly funny moments with equal force.

The animation is truly stunning, especially on Shadow, with rich textures and fine details, like the way the water drips down his fur in the clip below. Considering what the first version of Sonic would look like in these films, we’ve come a long way.

The fight scenes are masterfully crafted, with Fowler using iconic moves and shots from the games while adding the extra cinematic flair that this universe carries. They’re also just a lot of fun to watch as a fan, especially when it comes to the accompanying audio.

One of my biggest criticisms of the first two films was the lack of original game music. Sonic the Hedgehog completely omitted all songs except for a small nod to Green Hill Zone, while the sequel used only a handful of arrangements from the classic series. Considering how iconic the soundtracks are, this felt like a missed opportunity.

Sonic 3 doesn’t fall into the same trap, using some motifs from the 3D era multiple times in different ways. I suspect the popularity of the Sonic Symphony Tour (which started last year) has drawn attention to the cult status of the series’ music.

Another problem I had with the first two films was how much the human plots took over – an issue also seen in the Paramount+ series, Knuckles, through the character of Wade Whipple (Adam Pally). This is probably due to how expensive it is to animate the characters.

This time Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie Wachowski (Tika Sumpter) are used optimally. They push the plot forward in all the right parts and remind Sonic of his roots. Lee Majdoub’s Agent Stone also gets to shine further, showing his devotion to Doctor Eggman without a doubt.

One part of the film that may prove controversial for die-hard fans is the characterization of Gerald Robotnik, Doctor Robotnik/Eggman’s grandfather.

In the games (including the recent Sonic X Shadow Generations), Gerald’s madness is more subtle. He is shown to be a gentler figure, despite being capable of heinous acts. The character is also dead by the time we meet him.

Jim Carrey doesn’t take that approach. The Gerald we meet in the films exhibits the same crazy behavior used to portray Ivo Robotnik – with breaking the fourth wall, funny one-liners and literal mustache-twirling evil. There’s still a dark edge to him, but it’s definitely a departure from what fans will know.

Not everyone will see this as a negative point. Carrey has already put his own spin on the games’ villain, and for many audiences (especially parents who aren’t too familiar with anthropomorphic hedgehogs and the like), he’s one of the highlights of the film.

He does the same for Gerald, and the camera trickery with the pair sometimes makes you forget that you’re not looking at two separate actors on screen. My biggest concern is that there is a bit of tonal dissonance with this character, especially with the past and present versions we see of him.

That same theme could be applied to the final act, where we bounce between a rather dark sequence and a completely absurd scene. There’s another rather important plot point that’s quickly overlooked, and one that seems at odds with Sonic’s core character.

Game purists might also note that this film’s plot is a bit simpler than Sonic Adventure 2’s. That’s thanks to a leaner cast and the fact that the lore of the core story can get, well… a little crazy at times .

The deleted elements are in the right areas, while other crucial scenes have been adjusted to fit the story, all while maintaining the same emotional weight and without feeling like a clumsily adapted version like in the Sonic X animated series.

Paramount Photos

Should you watch Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

Sonic was a huge part of my childhood, whether it was games, TV shows, or comic books. I knew how important it was to get Shadow’s story right, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 delivered the best adaptation I’ve ever seen – even if Gerald Robotnik wasn’t quite up to my high standards.

This film has action, humor and emotion in spades. It’s a huge step up from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and honestly the most fun I’ve had at the cinema this year. While the homages and Easter eggs appealed to my inner Sonic fan, you don’t have to be one to enjoy this movie.

The cinematography is beautiful, the story is gripping and there is a brilliant balance of humor for both children and adults. This makes it a great choice for families deciding what to watch on the big screen at Christmas.

My only concern coming out of this movie is whether Jeff Fowler can maintain this standard for the fourth…although the post-credits scene made some hugely exciting promises that literally had me cheering out loud.