Cert – PG, Run-time – 1 hour 50 minutes, Director – Jeff Fowler
Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and co. must team up to stop another hedgehog (Keanu Reeves) with stronger powers from destroying the world alongside his nemesis Dr Robotnik’s (Jim Carrey) grandfather (Carrey).
At the end of Sonic The Hedgehog 2 I was somewhat hopeful about the inevitable third instalment. While not being a fan of the first film, although certainly being far too harsh on it when first released, the second was something of an improvement, improving as it went on to end with a solid and enjoyable third act. The marketing for this third film heavily focused on something of a darker tone with more focus on action through the introduction of antagonistic hedgehog Shadow (Keanu Reeves). Indeed, the action largely makes for the best stuff within Sonic The Hedgehog 3. Unfortunately, there’s still a tendency to lean back into the frustrations of the past in-between such sequences.
Shadow’s backstory, being created by the grandfather (Jim Carrey) of Sonic’s enemy Dr Robotnik (also Carrey, in a dual performance which is pulled off rather well) 50 years before, is seen in flashbacks a number of times throughout, growing increasingly orchestrated and tiresome through their convention each time. His story of loss contrasts with Sonic’s (Ben Schwartz) family, having become a strong largely-superpowered team, now with the additions of Colleen O’Shaughnessey’s Tails and Idris Elba’s consistently enjoyable Knuckles from the previous film, contrasting with the in-it-for-themselves nature of the Robotniks.
The more intense side of the action in this entry does bring about a likable nature to such moments, and as mentioned they make for the highlights of the film. However, where inconsistency lies is in the endless wise cracks of the tile hedgehog. Sonic is perhaps at his most annoying in this film, and while he calms down in the third act, there’s an almost relentless array of attempted gags unfurling from his mouth during most scenes. As a bike chase unfolds with Shadow through the busy streets of Tokyo he’s told “the more you talk the harder I want to hit you” and I couldn’t help but agree with the sentiment.
In total there are only a very small number of bits of wordplay that work over the near two-hour run-time, with most gags simply disturbing the flow of a scene or going on for too long without adding anything new to the joke so that one idea is simply stretched out until something else comes along. It’s one of the most frustrating things about this film which once again generally finds its proper footing in the, this time quite brief, third act. If all the build-up were more focused and stable like the final portion then, again, this would be a more enjoyable and successful time.
However, for a good deal of the time when promise is shown and the sequences find their stride they’re quickly knocked back by a tonal imbalance or out-of-place comment which feels as if it could be removed, or at least changed, to fit the moment better. It all makes this third instalment end in much the same way as the previous; hoping the improvement will continue into the next to make for a better-rounded film that leans into its promise rather than familiarity and seeming safety.
Once again, feeling most focused and balanced in the third act, the action of Sonic The Hedgehog 3 works well but is constantly disturbed by failed wisecracks from the lead character and repeating plot elements.
Just A Little Bit Random 