Film Review: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (2024): Third Go-Around for Video Game Movie Character Makes For a Lackluster and By-the-Numbers Action Film

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) Film Review, a movie directed by Jeff Fowler, written by Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington and starring Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Krysten Ritter, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Alyla Browne, Lee Majdoub, Adam Pally, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Tom Butler, Jorma Taccone, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernandez and James Wolk.

Director Jeff Fowler has crafted an entirely unnecessary sequel with the rather mundane, Sonic the Hedgehog 3. I spoke too soon after enjoying Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and thinking we needed more of these video game-based films. While kids might eat these movies up, I feel like it’s time to put this franchise to bed although there will, indeed, be a fourth movie as it was just announced today. Sonic, Tails and Knuckles are certainly cute characters but if I want to see them in action, I can see a quick clip of the cartoon on YouTube instead of sitting through a bloated movie like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 which has a ridiculous plot that can barely be followed unless you’re a seven-year-old boy putting in the extra effort to follow it. Jim Carrey is back in a wacky dual role here that doesn’t do the actor any justice. Carrey, himself, admitted he needed the money. It shows.

Usually a sequel movie’s creativity is somewhat displayed in its title. This one just calls itself Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and while I had no problem with that kind of lack of ingenuity the second time out, it feels just plain lazy to not add more to the title than just a number. Carrey acts really goofy and kids will probably laugh in spots but his jokes are offensive and his dance number in the movie as he goes through some red security beams is clearly a desperate attempt at zany humor that basically falls flat.

There is some positive energy here in the form of Idris Elba as Knuckles, our red haired friend from part 2. Elba is having fun playing his character straight (and with little sense of humor). Elba was the perfect casting choice for Knuckles and this time around, he doesn’t disappoint as he plays the serious one opposite the fun-loving Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey). Elba’s dry humor is simply perfect in spots throughout the picture. All three of the main characters race at the beginning of the movie but Knuckles and Tails secretly sneak away to help with the unveiling of Sonic’s surprise birthday party.

There is a new addition to the story line this time, though, called Shadow (voice of Keanu Reeves). The whole conception of the character of Shadow is a misfire. Shadow was held captive in water for 50 years and was involved with a young human girl named Maria (a fine Alyla Browne) earlier on in his life. Maria and Shadow were like peas and carrots but something unfair happened which separated them and threatened to jeopardize Shadow’s very existence. Shadow is mad and he has every right to be. Keanu Reeves voices this character well but Shadow is just a catalyst for a long-winded plot involving card keys and a bunch of characters who basically run around the room while the audience tries to figure out what their motivations are and keep tabs on everyone.

Krysten Ritter plays Detective Rockwell. Let it be said that Ritter’s always had a very noticeable on-screen personality on television. Not here, though. She plays her role strictly by-the-numbers this time. Meanwhile, Carrey plays his main character from the previous entries and that character’s grandfather and does so the only way he knows how- by going over-the-top. There’s a distinct sense of humor that Carrey has that works in a scene where a long-haired Carrey gets a haircut. But, both his main character and the grandfather’s sense of humor and long, twirly mustaches get old quickly.

Out of all the plot threads in the film (and there are at least half a dozen of them here), the one with Maria and Shadow was a touching one but the movie only scratches the surface of showing those characters’ deep bond with one another. The movie, instead, flings action scene after action scene at the audience. It’s exhausting and not entertaining to watch like it was the last time around.

Tails and Knuckles inspire Sonic to not give up and that type of message is important in a film like this which children will want to see. But, why does Carrey have to make a stale joke about women in the military? Carrey can be funny but he needs an editor to shape his jokes better. Less I forget, James Marsden and Tika Sumpter are back on board as well as Tom and Maddie, Sonic’s human family/best friends. This movie started filming without the human actors involved and the humans here are essentially cardboard cutouts. They are just placed strategically in the picture as human beings so the audience can relate to characters other than the video game guys the movie features.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is mostly unfunny, stale and trite, as stated, but Alyla Browne’s Maria is a pleasant exception to the overall disappointing quality of the movie. Shadow and Maria had a well-written friendship in the movie but the development of it gets lost in the shuffle as the movie attempts one action scene after the next, many of which feel like they lack true inspiration. One sequence where the characters stick to the floor is pretty banal.

The references to Spanish soap operas and Jim Carrey’s attempts at adult humor will fly over kids’ heads who may like the movie overall, but why try to please the adults through Carrey (and the script)’s banality? Just go ahead and make a movie next time with no humans. You’ll get better results than this. However, the film is slightly better than the first one from 2020. It is a lot less satisfying than the second, though, and that makes me feel like the producers are selling out. Stay tuned as the end credits roll for more scenes if you go see it, however.

Rating: 5.5/10

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