Of all the movies that I have written reviews for, this is the first one in quite a bit that caused me to think about it for a long time. The War of the Rohirrim review also took a bit, but that was more due to scheduling decisions than my thought process. It is personally baffling why it has taken me this long to get these words down considering that this film is not all that deep. Sure a child dies in the film, but this is a family movie that definitely plays things safe. Regardless, I am finally ready to hop right into Sonic the Hedgehog 3!

For those who haven’t seen the trailer, here is a brief synopsis. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails are living their best life with Tom and Maddy when they are thrown into action when an evil hedgehog named Shadow starts wreaking havoc. To put an end to this threat, Team Sonic has to recruit Dr. Robotnik to give them a tactical edge. Things get a little hairy when a lost figure from Dr. Robotnik’s past comes into the fold with a plan of his very own.

This story is loosely based off the story presented in Sonic Adventure 2 as there are quite a few plot elements that make up the core of this story. There are plenty of changes though, so playing that game will not ruin the plot. Instead, it will allow you to appreciate the many easter eggs that the filmmakers have thrown in. The film also has a few easter eggs from other Sonic games, but I won’t reveal them since they could be deemed spoilers.

The overall plot was rather good and solidified the world the first two films built. The first act seemed to be the weakest of the trilogy since the jokes didn’t really land and there seemed to be a lot of juggling. Fortunately, the second and third acts are phenomenal, allowing for all the pieces to fall in place and the plot to focus on the core part of the story: the differences between Sonic and Shadow. These two characters prove to be good foils for each other while also being kindred spirits to a certain extent. This dynamic is also played out between two other unlikely characters throughout the film, but I won’t discuss that too deeply since it is a pleasant surprise to see for yourself.

The cast from the other two films all manage to return in one form or another. Beyond Dr. Robotnik and Professor Robotnik, both played by Jim Carrey and Adam Bowman, the other humans play a smaller role in this film compared to the first two. The first film gave the humans just enough to do to establish the base for Sonic’s love of Earth and to put everything into perspective for moviegoers who may have not been familiar with the blue blur. On the other hand, the second film went a bit overboard with how much solo screen time that they had. This third gives the humans just enough to do to be pivotal, but not get in the way of the storytelling.

Of the new additions to the cast that seemed unusual was Krysten Ritter’s Director Rockwell. Her character proves to be a secondary antagonist to the plot but is only successful at slowing down both Team Sonic and Team Shadow. If there is to be a fourth film, I hope that she will be given more to do. Speaking of new roles, Keanu Reeves does an impressive job at voicing the perfect lifeform aka Shadow the Hedgehog. He brings a tonal pain and darkness to the role that doesn’t feel goofy or out of place with the rest of the world. Keanu’s performance goes where it needs to, but there could always be more to explore.

Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a fantastic film for people of all ages. You should see this film on the big screen if you haven’t already. There is plenty in this film for those who are a fan of the Sonic franchise and those who are brand new to it. If nothing else, you should see the film in order to bask in the amazing glory of Jim Carrey’s dance moves. If you would like to take a look at some of the upcoming video games that we are looking towards this year, check out Phenixx Gaming’s 2025 Most Wanted right here.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3

0.00

8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• Phenomenal Second and Third Act
• Great Score
• Easter Eggs Galore
• Wonderful Story
• Jim Carrey Shines Once More

Cons

• Slow First Act
• Some Jokes Don't Land