Before we start this review, be sure to check out my reviews for Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, there will be a review for the Knuckles mini-series soon. Thanks, and Enjoy!
Despite having to battle Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King at the Box Office, our favorite Blue Blur is back in Action with his friends to face a new threat, Shadow The Hedgehog. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has a lot to celebrate, it has sped past $1 Billion at the Global Box Office and has officially become the second highest-grossing video game movie of all time. Keep in mind, that this review isn’t going to be one of those troll reviews that the film “breaks people as parents,” It’s all fun here!
After the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic and his new family and friends have enjoyed their newfound peace after defeating Doctor Robotnik, Knuckles defeating a former agent of Robotnik (KNUCKLES), but that quickly changes when a new threat arrives in the form of a Black Hedgehog with Red Streaks named Shadow (Keanu Reeves), who has awakened after a 50-Year slumber and seeking revenge on G.U.N. for the death of Maria Robotnik, his first friend. Team Sonic will have to acquire an unlikely alliance to stop Shadow and save the world.
Things were certainly changed up storywise, not that I am complaining about it. For example, the last two films were family-oriented but the third film pushed it into dark territory with the introduction of Shadow, Gerald, and Maria. This version of Maria (Alyla Browne) didn’t have NIDS (Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome), never traveled to the Space Colony ARK, and never encouraged Shadow to give Humanity a chance to be happy (or something similar in that nature). Maria’s death was most likely changed due to the combination of keeping the film within the margin of PG and the fact that there have been numerous school shootings in the United States, which have involved the use of Military Style Rifles.
As for Gerald, who was very alive in this version thanks to Shadow’s Chaos Energy which was channeled in his quill to keep him alive and retain a relatively youthful appearance, driven to the brink of insanity at the loss of his granddaughter, it is fascinating that they decided to have him kept alive and to be played by Jim Carrey, which ended up being one of the best parts about this film. You know the old saying If you want something done right, do it yourself, that’s the case involving Carrey taking on two roles, even if he claims to be doing it for the paycheck, channeling the strangest attitude he could muster for the duo role, even reaching back to his days of playing the Grinch in his portrayal of Gerald. Carrey’s comedic prowess combined with his tone in serious roles comes into play at certain moments in the movie, most particularly near the end of the movie. As for Robotnik’s Henchman, Agent Stone (Lee Majdoub) did great work in his role as not only a henchman but as a friend to Robotnik, even gaining a following from fans as a couple surprisingly. Lee Majdoub proved that he was the perfect partner for Jim Carrey’s Ivo Robotnik, even though Robotnik has had a history of betraying everyone he worked with.
Besides the improved storytelling, it focuses on Shadow and his journey to avenge his closest friend Maria. Keanu did great in his portrayal of Shadow, giving fans Flashbacks of his past roles such as Neo from The Matrix, John Wick, and Johnny Silverhand from Cyberpunk 2077. Fowler and his team did great work bringing Shadow to life, including those flashback scenes. I enjoyed that they gave Sonic and the other characters time, instead of focusing more on the supporting cast, it would seem this time around the human cast more of a “Filler Arc” type of scenes, where Tom and Maddy are still in on the action but offering more comedic moments, like Little Tom and breaking into G.U.N. using disguises. There was character growth for Team Sonic, they are adopted siblings rather than friends, which was an adorable sight, though my gripe is that Knuckles still has the same demeanor as David Batista’s Drax the Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy, but not really a bad thing but it’s the old stereotype to make the brute either ignorant or be there mainly for Comic-Relief, which Knuckles was like his video game counterpart.
For the special effects, they knocked it out of the park, offering fans (both child and adult) a Super-Powered Brawl, even the appearance of a fan-favorite foe and fan-favorite hero. The Battle had shades of Shonen Anime like Dragon Ball Z mixed in with Video Games and Comic Books, Sonic and Shadow’s battle was the most pleasing thing I have seen so far in terms of movies.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be available for Digital, Blu-Ray, and DVD soon, you can pre-order your copy today over at Amazon by clicking on the links provided.
Final Grade:
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