Family, and Friendship: The Emotional Core of Sonic the Hedgehog 3

I don’t play many video games these days, but when I was a kid in the ‘90s, I used to love them. I had both NES and Sega Genesis, and some of my favorite games were Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. I still remember all the joy I used to get from running through the loops, picking up rings, and defeating the evil Dr. Robotnik, so it should come as no surprise that I’m a big fan of the Sonic films as well. I love the first two movies, and coming into 2024, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was one of my most anticipated films of the year. I couldn’t wait for the inevitable ‘90s nostalgia rush this movie would bring, so when tickets went on sale, I bought one for opening night as soon as I got the chance.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was directed by Jeff Fowler, and it stars Jim Carrey, Lee Majdoub, James Marsden, and Tika Sumpter along with the voices of Ben Schwartz, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, and Keanu Reeves. In the film, Sonic and his pals Tails and Knuckles have to save the world once again, but this time, they face off against more than just Dr. Robotnik. The evil scientist’s long-lost grandfather is also in the mix, and he’s teamed up with Shadow, a hedgehog with nearly unstoppable powers and a dark past.

As you might be able to guess from that somewhat vague plot synopsis, the story isn’t the real draw here. In fact, from a pure narrative perspective, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 isn’t all that great. While the core of this story (Sonic vs. Shadow) is clear from the beginning, it takes a while for the conflict to fully take shape, and along the way, the plot shifts more times than a good story should.

In a similar vein, events often happen simply because the plot calls for them, with little or no discernible narrative logic. For instance, Dr. Robotnik appeared to die at the end of the last Sonic movie, so I was curious to learn how he managed to cheat death. And now that I’ve finally seen Sonic the Hedgehog 3, I’m still curious because the film never explains it. We just find out that the not-so-good doctor is alive, and the filmmakers don’t bother to tell us anything more.

Admittedly, that’s the most egregious example, but even when the movie isn't quite that lazy, the connective tissue often feels frustratingly thin. In that sense, this is very much a typical kids’ story, so don’t go into it expecting Shakespeare. Instead, the real draw here is the characters and all the charm, heart, and awesome action they bring with them, and on that front, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a total blast.

To begin, Sonic and his crew have all the quirky charm that endeared them to viewers the first two times around. Their tight-knit friendship is as heartwarming as ever, and when they joke around, they’re absolutely hilarious. In particular, Knuckles might be even funnier than he was in the last film, so if you’re a fan of his almost Drax-like dim-witted humor, you’re in for a real treat.

However, as great as the heroes are, the villains in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 just might steal the show. Jim Carrey reprises his role as the evil Dr. Robotnik, and he’s…well, he plays the character as only he can, and if you’ve seen either of the first two Sonic movies, you know exactly what I mean.
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But unlike those other films, Carrey gets to have double the fun this time around. He also plays Robotnik’s grandfather, and the scenes where his two characters share the screen are some of the best in the entire film. Whether the Robotniks are fighting, dancing, or just making up for lost time, Jim Carrey has surprisingly great chemistry with himself, and he brings an unparalleled feeling of pure joy to this dual role.

Last but not least, we have to talk about Shadow. He’s the newbie of the bunch, and he’s more than a worthy addition to this amazing cast of characters. For starters, like I said before, this hedgehog is almost unstoppable. In fact, there’s a scene where he single-handedly takes out Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in a matter of seconds, so he’s hands down the biggest threat our lovable blue hedgehog has ever faced. His powers are similar to Sonic’s, but he has a trump card nobody can match. This creature can teleport like Nightcrawler from the X-Men, so he doesn’t just move fast. He moves instantaneously, and that ability makes for some excellent fight sequences.

On top of all that, Shadow also has one of the most tragic backstories we’ve seen all year. Like his heroic counterpart, he too is from another planet, but when he arrived on Earth, he immediately became the government’s lab rat. His life was almost entirely pain and suffering, and even when he did make a friend, she was tragically taken from him. The whole thing is just heartbreaking, and when Shadow returns to his old stomping grounds and finds the place deserted and run down, the visuals bring this hedgehog’s agony to life in a stark way.

A couple of his scenes might even bring a bit of moisture to your eyes, but he’s not the only tearjerker in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Just about everybody in the movie gets (at least) an emotional beat or two, and these moments all come together to create a poignant thematic tapestry that fits right in with the rest of the franchise while also expanding on its core message.

The previous two Sonic films are all about family and friendship, and unsurprisingly, they mainly explore those themes through their protagonists. The first movie sees Sonic find a family in Tom and Maddie, and the second one brings Knuckles and Tails into that fold. So naturally, I was sure this third film would follow the same blueprint with Shadow, but that’s not what happens.

Instead, just about everybody–including the two Robotniks and even the henchman Agent Stone–plays into this theme in some overt way, and Shadow’s contribution is very different from what I was expecting. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that it has more to do with his past than his present, and the movie hammers the point home with a great analogy involving starlight.

Admittedly, that probably sounds rather vague, but trust me, it’s actually quite beautiful and touching. It’s sure to hit home with anybody who’s ever lost a loved one, so it’s the cherry on top of this already moving cinematic experience. Along with the rest of the characters and everything they bring to the table, it helps Sonic the Hedgehog 3 handily overcome its narrative weaknesses, so despite those flaws, I’m happy to report that this movie is still an absolute home run.