Sonic Speeds Through His Emotions in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3"



Title:
Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Director: Jeff Fowler
Starring: Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Krysten Ritter, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves

Studio: Paramount Pictures
Genre(s): Action
Rated: PG (For action, some violence, rude humor, thematic elements and mild language)
Buy what a difference half a decade makes. I still remember the first day the trailer for "Sonic the Hedgehog" dropped, in which the world got its first glimpse of what has now been dubbed "Ugly Sonic." While reactions to Jim Carrey's performance were met with optimism, the design for Sonic was so unlikable that the movie seemed dead on arrival. After retooling the design to one that was less realistic (but more appealing to the eyes), the film was released to a public that found something more enjoyable than they could have hoped for. It did not, however, feel much like the video games it was based on (kids could probably watch "The Smurfs" or "Yogi Bear" and get a lesser but similar experience.


With the sequel more elements from the video games were introduced (particularly with Knuckles and Tails), showing that the lore of the franchise could make the transition into movie format without being seen as too goofy to take seriously. With "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" the franchise has not only retained what has made the previous films so enjoyable (including a double role by Carrey) but may also be the point in which the series has grown up a bit, as the series moves into a more serious direction by adapting one of the more notable storylines from the games. That storyline comes courtesy of the Sega Dreamcast game "Sonic Adventure 2," in which Sonic is framed as a criminal by another hedgehog who looks exactly like him (except for the color, shoes, and direction of his spikes).


That character is Shadow the Hedgehog, a government experiment that was hidden away for fifty years but has now been freed by a figure who is using stolen technology from Dr. Robotnik (Carrey). While viewers unfamiliar with the games may assume that Shadow is more or less just an evil clone of Sonic himself, the reality is that there is more depth to the character than most will be anticipating (including a backstory that is rather dark and tragic for a family film). Considering that pain and loss are the main themes of the film, it was a great move to hire Keanu Reeves to voice the character, as he not only brings a menacing tone with a tinge of sadness behind his words. 


The filmmakers wisely moved away from the framing storyline and into the tragic backstory of the characters. Lest you think everything gets too serious at this point, Robotnik finds that his long-lost grandfather Gerald Robotnik (also played by Carrey) is alive and well, and the two spend quality time getting to know one another through virtual reality and 90s dance moves in a high-security government facility. Because even if the series is growing up a bit, it still knows what it is: a fun family adventure. That it is a fun family adventure that is surprisingly emotional at times is, sadly, all too rare in the field of family entertainment. 


"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is easily the best installment of the franchise and a good launching pad to show that video game movies have the potential to tell stories with a bit more depth than what the Mario and Pokemon movies have been delivering. It is not perfect by any means, but it is a good example of how a video game adaptation - if done with care and love - can properly deliver the fun experiences that the games provide on the silver screen. Is that the lesson Hollywood will take, or will they just try to mine IP in hopes of getting temporary big returns for stockholders? I suppose we'll see.

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