Sonic 3: A Movie for Superfans and Casual Viewers Alike

Sega, famous for creating the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise, has teamed up with Paramount Pictures to release their third Sonic film: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024). Just like the previous two movies, this installment was a success, reeling in $420 million at the box office. Why? Simple: the film effectively evokes nostalgia for the classic games of so many people’s childhoods. The franchise’s iconic characters’ personalities shine through, and the CGI makes them feel expressive and alive. Even for newcomers to the franchise, the film is still a fun watch. It’s not a groundbreaking masterpiece, but it’s amazing for anyone who wants to feel nostalgia for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise or have a great time.

The movie starts on a dark, gloomy island on the coast of Tokyo. Here, viewers are introduced to franchise fan-favorite Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves). The plot of the movie is kicked into action when Shadow escapes from the military base he’s being held in and starts causing chaos in Tokyo. It’s revealed over the course of the movie that Shadow is seeking revenge because the military killed his only friend, the human Maria. Then, the film introduces its protagonists: Sonic the Hedgehog (Ben Schwartz), Miles “Tails” Prower (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), Knuckles the Echidna (Idris Elba), and their human allies Tom Wachowski (James Marsden), and Maddie Wachowski (Tiki Sumpter). Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles spend the movie trying to stop Shadow, franchise main antagonist Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey), and Ivo’s grandfather, Gerald Robotnik (Carrey), from destroying the Earth. 

The film is cinematic and well-animated, exemplified by its final battle. Sonic fights Shadow after he injures Tom and uses the chaos emeralds (energy gemstones hailing from the video game lore) to turn into his powered-up form, Super Sonic, beating Shadow. Sonic manages to convince Shadow not to use the orbital laser, and the hedgehogs work together to destroy the laser. Some have joked that most of the film’s budget went toward this fight scene, given its spectacle. In their chaos-emerald-powered forms, the hedgehogs travel all over Earth, punching and kicking each other into completely different continents. The fight is extremely fast-paced, which can be overwhelming at times, though the high-speed animation manages to perfectly capture the feeling of an action film.

This film also contains several odes to its fans who grew up playing these games. For instance, the theme song of the game Sonic Adventure 2 (2001), “Live and Learn” by Crush 40, plays during several parts of the movie. The song is played in different renditions—for example, as an acoustic guitar cover played to introduce Shadow. At the film’s end, an upbeat, game-accurate version is played as Sonic and Shadow team up and save the world. Then, Sonic and Shadow strike the same iconic, air-bound pose they hit in the intro of Sonic Adventure 2. 

The actors helped make the film extremely enjoyable. Carrey’s double performance and fourth wall breaks were especially entertaining, portraying two of the main villains, Ivo and Gerald. Carrey was obviously aware that he was going to be acting in a children’s movie, yet his hilarious performance as the Robotniks appeals to all ages. He’s clearly dedicated to getting into the Robotniks’ specific characters rather than exuding a version of himself on screen. Reeves’ vocal performance is also impressive, but it’s a bit too edgy. He’s overtly dark and brooding—though he’s just like that in the games, making Reeves’ performance accurate. 

Although this movie is more enjoyable for longtime fans, it’s worth a watch for casual viewers. Unlike the two previous Sonic installments, which focused on a younger demographic, the film appeals to both young adults and children, allowing for a wider audience of people to enjoy it. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but it’s a fun watch thanks to its ability to invoke nostalgia by accurately representing the Sonic games.