'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' Review: A Visually Supercharged Success
Jeff Fowler, director and chief creative behind all three Sonic films thus far (as well as the ‘Knuckles’ show) got his start within the franchise early on, and it’s paid off.
‘Sonic’ director Jeff Fowler is a fan first, and more than any of the rest of the films thus far, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ bleeds that. That’s due in large part to Shadow appearing at length for the first time in this third film as a complete character, with Keanu Reeves manning his vocal work.
‘John Wick’ Shadow is indeed as cool as it sounds, but on the whole, much of Sonic 3 feels a tad overzealous, at least on the page. It’s still a good film, especially when compared to some other, similar franchise fare that studios are putting out these days. But this was supposed to be the one that took it up a notch in all regards, and although the potential is present, much of it remains untapped.
Still, none of the shortcomings have anything to do with Shadow, and he’s the biggest addition here. It isn’t just the cool factor either, his characterization is strong, clearly defined, and deeply impactful. Sonic 3 is arguably at its best when it flashes back, dwelling on Shadow's past often as he does in multiple sequences built around faded memories. Shadow’s lost friendship with Professor Robotnik’s granddaughter, Maria, quickly becomes the heart of the film, as well as the crux of all conflict. That and everything regarding it works with painful effectivity.
But on the same hand, the addition of another Robotnik played by Jim Carrey in the form of the professor (Eggman’s grandfather,) absolutely shreds any semblance of consistency on the film’s tonal front. Carrey is funny for the most part, as usual, but a good portion of his gags come directly after an emotional moment, or something dramatic. It’s a whiplash effect, and it creates a weird dynamic between the audience’s feelings and what the film wants them to feel at any given moment, which is often unclear.
It isn’t just Robotnik. Sonic’s one-liners are cranked up to 10, the physical humor and bits are more present than ever before, and overall, we’ve gone from the broader comedic sensibilities of the last two films to something that feels more singular, for better or worse. The film retains the over-the-top zaniness introduced in the Knuckles show. If that worked for you, this should too. But if not…
Audiences will still find plenty to like elsewhere within the film to keep engagement up. Even if the third film takes a step back in some ways (especially the writing), it works to make up for it technically and cosmetically. Sonic 3 is an absolutely beautiful film. The special effects are seriously top-notch, significantly out-pacing that of the latest Marvel installments, as well as other such franchise offerings. The hedgehogs, echidna, and fox all seamlessly blend into real environments and interact with human characters with ease. Building a believable world around those characters is no easy feat, but Sonic 3 makes it look easy.
When those characters fight, buckle up. Every fight scene is a marvel, but one specific example towards the film’s climax is an absolute stunner. The content of the video games these films pull from lends itself well to the scale of a blockbuster movie like this one, and there again, Fowler’s familiarity with both shines through.
Simply put, chasing a bunch of colorful animals around as they work to foil another mustachioed man’s plans has never looked better. This is perhaps Sonic 3’s greatest strength, and for many, that alone will be enough to make this a worthwhile experience.
The film is chock-full of cheeky references to those aforementioned video games and the culture that surrounds them as well. It’s a ton of little things such as those that stack up and make this feel like a special experience, even if the actual narrative at the core of it all has been done before.
The story itself is contextually unique, but thematically, Sonic 3 is an eerily familiar ride. Characters are framed through easily digestible lenses of one-word messages, which are harped on throughout to ensure that everyone understands exactly what they should take away from it all.
There are more than a few sweet moments that work on a basic level, but ultimately, most of them are robbed of any greater meaning due to the film’s commitment to a relatively low level of thematic breadth, save again for Shadow’s scenes and Shadow’s scenes alone.
This issue comes to a head in the third act (no spoilers) where it seems that the writers were ready to take a risk, and they play the film out as if the consequences of that risk are taking place, before revealing that it wasn’t actually taken at all. It’s a “have your cake and eat it too” sort of thing that may work on the first watch, but upon subsequent visits, renders the brevity of any and all related moments almost nonexistent. In the same way that many little things spur this film in the right direction, it is also the little things that hold it back from reaching a higher level of quality and impact.
The third Sonic movie is for the fans, and to that point, it’s going to rightfully succeed. The film caters to the right crowd, one that it has earned up to this point, and will surely continue to build an extended audience going forward by and through them.
But, from a wider view, it feels like a slight step down from the last entry. Good? Definitely. Great? Not quite. Either way, the film offers plenty of promise for the franchise going forward, and in the end, should prove as another sure step along that apparently evergreen path.