Listed among the greatest video games of all time, Sonic the Hedgehog was introduced to the world on June 23, 1991. In the 33 years since it has become one of the highest-grossing video game franchises ever. From games to merchandise and comics to animation and live-action films, Sonic has become a beloved character that has earned a place in pop culture. Four years ago, the first live-action feature film was released in theaters to audience acclaim and an ultimate gross of over $320 million worldwide. This week, movie #3 heads to the big screen just in time for the holiday movie season.
In a dark and isolated government military facility, an extraterrestrial being lies dormant, suspended in a liquid substance, as it has been for the last 50 years. Suddenly, the computer system gets hacked, and the system starts to fail. The creature opens its eyes and breaks its glass enclosure. With speed, agility, and pent-up anger, Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves, the John Wick franchise) unleashes half a century of fury on the guards and escapes his confinement.
Meanwhile, Sonic (Ben Schwartz; Parks and Recreation), Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey; Danny Phantom), and Knuckles (Idris Elba; Thor: Ragnarok) race to see who is the fastest. This is merely a distraction so Tom (James Marsden; X-Men) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter; Ride Along) can set up a party to celebrate Sonic's landing on Earth. However, G.U.N. (Guardian Units of Nations) agents arrive during the celebration, asking for the "aliens'" help to locate and apprehend Shadow. Unfortunately, Shadow is more elusive than expected, and the journey to discovering who he is and what he plans to do on Earth is filled with anger, sadness, and a well-mustached villain or two.
Schwartz voices Sonic for the third time and delivers a terrific performance. O'Shaughnessey and Elba return from the sequel to portray Sonic's friends, while Marsden and Sumpter also reprise their roles with a few funny scenes. Reeves portrays Shadow as a stoic character with a layer of sadness beneath the surface. Jim Carrey (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective) returns to portray not only Dr. Robotnik but also his grandfather. The rest of the cast delivers solid, if not extraordinary, performances.
When the first glimpse of Sonic was released in 2020, audiences were less than thrilled with the outcome. Paramount Pictures returned to the drawing board and revamped the hedgehog, resulting in a much better-looking and more realistic Sonic. The attention to detail on this CGI character has grown exponentially, culminating in a third installment where every strand of fur moves with the breeze, and shading details are precise and sharp.
At a time of year when we focus on family, the movie's message is just that-family. What does family mean to each person? What constitutes a family? Is it only blood relations or those who mean the most to you? This latest installment delivers a wonderful message in a fun and exciting way. While a few jokes may go over younger kids' heads, this is a film the whole family can enjoy together.
Grade: B
