Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
Sonic the Hedgehog is back. And, this time, he’s run into real trouble.
Now into his third film with the ‘Blue Blur’, director Jeff Fowler definitely seems to have found his groove. Each of these entries so far has been crafted with a deep love for the character, balancing action and emotional moments. But he genuinely seems to have upped his game in the third film. Not only is Sonic 3 the biggest film in the series in terms of scale, it also carries some of its best character work, creating a truly memorable experience for a family-friendly franchise.
In Sonic 3, Sonic the Hedgehog has settled into a (sort of) quiet life with his family and two new ‘brothers’, Knuckles and Tails. However, that peaceful life comes to an end when they encounter Shadow, a powerful new adversary with unbelievable powers. Overwhelmed by his abilities, Team Sonic is forced to do the unthinkable and team up with an old foe in the hopes of saving the planet from Shadow’s fiery fury.
In Sonic 3, Fowler continues to widen his cinematic world. Whereas the first film focused on the drama within their small town and the next evolved into a globe-trotting adventure, the third film takes the characters into Earth’s orbit. While this sort of change can seem like it’s pushing the boundaries too far, Fowler’s semi-gradual expansion of the Sonic universe fits the franchise well. (This is based on a video game, after all.)
As a result, the action scenes within this film continue to improve. With the addition of Shadow and his teleportation powers, battle sequences feel truly epic in spots, even if they borrow from other projects at times. (For example, Fowler clearly has a love for the X-Men films.) The world of Sonic has always been one of speed and chaotic bursts of energy yet, somehow, he manages to keep things focused and simple. But, most importantly, unlike other major CGI blockbusters, Sonic 3 is able to keep even the largest of battles feeling personal.
It’s not only about epic battles. It’s about the characters.
In all seriousness, what keeps the Sonic franchise grounded is the emphasis that it puts on the growth of its characters. Character development could have gotten lost in the series continued to broaden its scale. Nevertheless, Sonic 3 never gets so big that it misses out on the progression of the members of Team Sonic. (Or, is it Team Knuckles?) Relationships between Sonic, Knuckles and Tails continue to evolve as they learn how to work together. Dr. Robotnik’s encounter with a long-lost member of his family pushes him to explore what it means to value people.
But it’s Shadow’s battle with rage that brings the film to the next level.
Without giving any spoilers, the introduction of Shadow amounts to more than just another ‘super hedgehog’. Having escaped from the clutches of G.U.N., Shadow is a character with a tortured soul. Bent on revenge, rage fuels his every action. For Shadow, the only way to deal with the pain in his heart is to unleash his fury on those responsible. But it takes a toll on him as well. Here, Fowler uses the character to explore the damage that can be done when our hearts are filled with hate. (After all, revenge can spread like an infectious disease.)
Quite frankly, it’s rare to see a franchise grow and improve over time but Sonic 3 seems to have unlocked the cheat code for success. Each film has shown improvement over the last in different ways and it’s not hyperbole to suggest that Sonic 3 is the best film in the franchise. (Although it’s worth noting that viewers unfamiliar with the other two films may struggle to keep up with some plot threads and cameos.) But, as long as the series continues to improve, it’s more than earned the right to run forward with more adventures.
Sonic 3 is available in theatres on Friday, December 20th, 2024.
