Sonic is back in what’s being called his best movie yet. The first reviews are in for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and they’re predominantly positive, celebrating the action, humor, and improved writing, directing, and special effects. All our favorite characters from the franchise return, including Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Tom the Donut Lord. This time, they’re up against a new villain: Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves. However, as with the first two Sonic movies, the best reason to see this one is Jim Carrey, now hilariously performing two roles.
Here’s what critics are saying about Sonic the Hedgehog 3:
How does it compare to the other Sonic movies?
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continues the upward trajectory of the series… This is the best Sonic movie yet.
— Daniel Howat, Next Best Picture
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the best yet, which is shocking to say because the first two movies are fantastic.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is, improbably, the best of the lot so far.
— Jesse Hassenger, Polygon
After three entries, Paramount’s Sonic series hasn’t lost any steam, and this might be the best one overall.
— Marc Deschamps, ComicBook.com
Third time is the charm for the franchise, which finally hits its stride with a more fleet adventure for Team Sonic.
— A.A. Dowd, IGN Movies
The best experience for fans yet.
— Cole Groth, FandomWire
Sadly gone is the charm of Sonic 2 which was a little more nuanced, and a lot more engaging.
— Pete Hammond, Deadline
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
What about other video game adaptations in general?
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continues to defy video game franchise expectations by being better in every way than the previous blockbuster installments.
— Julian Roman, Movieweb
[Video game movies] tend to be overproduced and lugubrious. But Sonic 3 gives hyperactivity a good name.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
This is the first time director Jeff Fowler and Paramount have adapted a story-heavy Sonic game, and the result is surprisingly faithful to the source material… Sonic fans that played the original Dreamcast game are going to find a lot to enjoy.
— Marc Deschamps, ComicBook.com
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 isn’t just an excellent video game adaptation, but it’s one of the best blockbusters of the year.
— Cole Groth, FandomWire
Is this a superhero movie?
It’s a parody of the grandiosity of what superhero movies have become. It’s like a late Marvel extravaganza that never loses sight of the fact that it’s preposterous.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Kids probably deserve a better faux-superhero franchise; Carrey certainly does. But sometimes junky kids’ movies turn out pretty fun in spite of themselves.
— Jesse Hassenger, Polygon
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
How is the directing?
Jeff Fowler, who directed all three of these movies, is a quicker and wittier flimflam magician of energy than he was when he made the first Sonic in 2020.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Jeff Fowler, who also made the first two movies, has further streamlined the pacing, and the film flies by in a silly, agreeable blur.
— Jesse Hassenger, Polygon
With each passing entry in this series, Fowler seems to find a steadier hand behind the camera.
— Jonathan Sim, ComingSoon.net
In this third film, it’s clear that Fowler has found his stride.
— Cole Groth, FandomWire
Fowler’s success in escalating every aspect leaves a lot of threads to resolve. This means a frenzy of closure that runs the cinematic engine hot.
— Julian Roman, Movieweb
What about the visuals?
Jeff Fowler delivers his most eye-catching installment, reuniting with Sonic 2 cinematographer Brandon Trost to craft a sci-fi spectacle with some dynamic set pieces.
— Tim Grierson, Screen International
The CGI continues to impress… Sonic 3 delivers the most impressive visuals of the series yet, with the final third feeling particularly at home on the big screen.
— Jack Shepherd, Total Film
The visuals, in particular Sonic and his friends, look incredible.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
The visuals are excellent, and it’s easy to forget that you’re watching humans interact with CGI creatures.
— Jonathan Sim, ComingSoon.net
Visually, this is somewhat hit or miss. It certainly looks better than the other things, but the cinematography is often flat.
— Cole Groth, FandomWire
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
And the action?
The action sequences are incredible and intense, leaving viewers clinging to the edge of their seats.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
The action is a slight step up from the previous films.
— Daniel Howat, Next Best Picture
Shadow’s introduction raises the action bar for every scene to come. It’s that impressive.
— Julian Roman, Movieweb
How is the script?
With fewer destination weddings and heart-to-hearts about Tom’s career aspirations on the docket, the script by Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington can keep the focus trained on our colorful alien menagerie.
— A.A. Dowd, IGN Movies
Casey and Miller’s script does a slick job of proportioning just the right amount of screen time to a big ensemble.
— Julian Roman, Movieweb
Sonic 3 has more narrative focus and urgency than Sonic 2.
— Ian Freer, Empire Magazine
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is just a vivaciously staged throwaway, but it has a spirit that recalls the elegant tomfoolery of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Ralph Breaks the Internet. And it’s anything but mindless.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Though Fowler and writers Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington keep the references easy to follow, I still get the impression they’re winking at those in the know.
— Rachel Labonte, Screen Rant
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 goes out with the same wildly predictable, one-dimensional storytelling that the franchise came in with.
— Christian Zilko, IndieWire
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
Is it funny?
The script is hilarious, getting the biggest laughs of the series by far.
— Cole Groth, FandomWire
The humor hits for kids and adults alike (there are a few jokes for older audiences that will fly over younger ones’ heads)… To say that I was laughing until my cheeks hurt is an understatement.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
It certainly possesses enough of the requisite… silly jokes to keep small fry entertained while not boring their adult chaperones. Although it’s hard to tell exactly for whom a Bea Arthur joke is intended.
— Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
How is Keanu Reeves as Shadow?
Reeves makes a fine addition to the cast, infusing his voice portrayal of the menacing Shadow… with the same gravitas he brings to the similarly revenge-obsessed John Wick.
— Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
Reeves does a brilliant job conveying Shadow’s hurt and steel, adding to his formidable presence.
— Rachel Labonte, Screen Rant
Damned if Reeves doesn’t make Shadow a weirdly likable little ball of pain at the center of it all.
— Jesse Hassenger, Polygon
Keanu Reeves… speaks in his usual candor in a way that’s oddly fitting for the series’ most intimidating villain yet.
— Cole Groth, FandomWire
Considering Shadow has been front-and-center of the marketing, as well as being a key character in the games, it’s a somewhat disappointing turn.
— Jack Shepherd, Total Film
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
What about Jim Carrey?
Weird, wild, and utterly brilliant… His enthusiasm is infectious, lifting every scene; like the other two Sonic movies, this one belongs to Carrey.
— Jack Shepherd, Total Film
Jim Carrey will have audiences roaring with laughter in an absolutely brilliant double performance that further cements his comedic genius.
— Julian Roman, Movieweb
Jim Carrey gets to give an epic performance, topping everything he’s done in these movies.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
As it turns out, two of him are better than one.
— A.A. Dowd, IGN Movies
Most of the time, Carrey is off to the side, performing a gloriously deranged one-man, two-character musical.
— Jesse Hassenger, Polygon
The introduction of Dr. Robotnik’s grandfather, also hilariously played by Jim Carrey, is where the film goes from being more of the same to something genuinely fantastic.
— Cole Groth, FandomWire
Without him, this film could have been a lot, lot worse.
— Andrew Pulver, The Guardian
Carrey is such a talented actor, it seems a shame he is stuck having to rev up even more manic energy to play Dr. Robotnik, which he does to the hilt while throwing off a series of break-the-fourth-wall pop culture references in the process.
— Pete Hammond, Deadline
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
And the rest of the cast?
In this film, we thankfully step away from most of the humans, and since Tom and Maddie are the only likable humans in this thing, the film is much better for their presence.
— Cole Groth, FandomWire
The human elements are a bit hit and miss… James Marsden and Tika Sumpter are a chemistry-free zone, looking like they met for the first time seconds before the cameras started rolling.
— Andrew Pulver, The Guardian
They still have thankless jobs to do, and the way the movie needlessly incorporates additional past human cast members is confusing at best.
— Jesse Hassenger, Polygon
Their participation in the adventure seems half-hearted at best… [Krysten Ritter] is sadly not given much to do.
— Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
Ritter’s role in the movie feels largely wasted, as if there was an intended payoff that got left on the cutting room floor.
— Marc Deschamps, ComicBook.com
Should they keep making Sonic movies?
This series has only improved with each release, a trend I sincerely hope continues with the next installment.
— Cole Groth, FandomWire
At its current rate of unlikely improvement, the Sonic series should turn out a Toy Story 2-grade masterpiece in, oh, maybe five years.
— A.A. Dowd, IGN Movies
If they can manage to keep the charm of this trilogy going, keep ’em coming.
— Daniel Howat, Next Best Picture
If Carrey decides not to retire, it would continue to be a pleasure watching him go full balls-to-the-wall mode.
— Jack Shepherd, Total Film
If you are not on your knees begging Paramount to green light Sonic 4 after witnessing these, then I don’t think you can even call yourself a fan.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3
(2024)
opens in theaters on December 20, 2024.
Thumbnail image by ©Paramount Pictures
