A One Mann’s Movies review of “Sonic The Hedgehog 3” (2024).
I must be one of the last people to see “Sonic The Hedgehog 3” which has now been out in UK cinemas for more than a month and made over £23 million at the UK and Ireland box office. But as it’s STILL at number 3 in the charts so, who knows, it might be milked (like “Mufasa“, unaccountably, still at number 2!) for another few weeks!
I know some of my ever-increasing hoard of grandkids have seen it, and loved it, so I’m watching it with that understanding. And, thanks to the manic antics of Jim Carrey, it really wasn’t bad.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“Sonic The Hedgehog 3” Plot Summary:
Evil alien hedgehog Shadow (voiced by Keanu Reeves) escapes from his Japanese island prison and runs amok in Tokyo. It’s up to Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba) to take him on.
Certification:
UK: PG; US: PG. (From the BBFC web site: “Mild violence, threat, language, rude humour”.)
Talent:
Starring: Ben Schwartz, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Lee Majdoub, Krysten Ritter, Alyla Browne.
Directed by: Jeff Fowler.
Written by: Pat Casey, Josh Miller & John Whittington. (From a story by Pat Casey & Josh Miller.)
Running Time: 1h 50m.
“Sonic The Hedgehog 3” Summary:
Positives:
- Fun action for kids and ‘in’ jokes for adults.
- Jim Carrey, in a double role, made me laugh.
Negatives:
- Lots of crashy-bashy superhero stuff that got a bit tiresome.
- At 110 minutes it outstayed its welcome a bit.
Review of “Sonic The Hedgehog 3”:
I mean, it’s largely crashy-bashy stuff for kids.
This is a film that knows full-well who its audience is. The film leans into a lot of superhero action with the alien hedgehogs/foxes/whatever-Knuckles-is-supposed-to-be. That being said, it is well done and there is a smattering of jokes in there for adults to enjoy. It was a neat trick to replace the Sonic rings in the opening Paramount titles. And 2011’s “Green Lantern” gets another well deserved kicking!
Carrey out of ‘retirement’.
Jim Carrey has famously ‘come out of retirement’ (his last film was “Sonic 2” in 2022) to reprise his role as Dr Robotnik and even adds in an extra role as his own ‘Grand-Pappy’. He’s excellent value, adding a lot of his traditional manic comedy energy to both roles. I laughed a lot. Carrey is not afraid to kick down the 4th wall, and at one point comments that “it’s almost as if they have the same actor playing both characters”, LOL.
Decent special effects.
For a lightweight (but highly profitable) film like this, the special effects are really very good. A scene where Robotnik’s spacecraft comes out of the Thames next to Tower Bridge is impressive and there’s more than a nod to “Captain Marvel” in the way in which Sonic later drives like a fireball through the middle of the ship.
A message and some degree of heart.
As its a kid’s film, there is a message included. Delivered by the rather po-faced James Marsden, reprising his role as Tom, it’s about listening to your heart and not giving in to hate and revenge.
Also, somewhat surprising and well done, are flashback scenes to position why Shadow has such anger inside him. They show the relationship between Shadow and Robotnik Snrs granddaughter Maria, played really charmingly by Alyla Browne who, if you like me were struggling to place her, also played the young Furiosa brilliantly well in last year’s Mad Max epic. This is a young lady worth keeping track of.
Summary Thoughts on “Sonic The Hedgehog 3″
A solid and entertaining film for kids that adults can also enjoy to a certain degree. But it is a PG rather and a U, with some threat, mild violence and implied death that might make it a struggle for younger kids.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Sonic The Hedgehog 3″:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocEv3K_H9o4 .
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