- Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, James Marsden, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Keanu Reeves
- December 21st 2024
- 110
- Jeff Fowler
Sonic forms a team with Tails and Knuckles and together they take on their most powerful adversary yet – Shadow.
The previous Sonic film introduced us to Tails and Knuckles and now this instalment, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, brings another character into the mix – Shadow.
In the latest outing, once again directed by Jeff Fowler, our favourite blue hedgehog Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) is now part of a crime-fighting team with Miles ‘Tails’ Prower (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba).
When their newest adversary, Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves), turns out to be more powerful than expected, the trio turns to their foe Dr Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and forms an unlikely alliance.
However, this plot is ruined by the reappearance of Robotnik’s long-lost grandfather Gerald (also Carrey), who has a sinister plan up his sleeve.
Fans of the video games will get a kick out of seeing Sonic, Tails and Knuckles teaming up and facing off against Shadow, while comedy fans will be thrilled seeing Carrey work his physical comedy magic in this dual role.
The storytelling is messy and haphazard but there are so many fun individual scenes, hilarious moments and great gags that you’ll still have a ball with this.
Carrey recently said that he did Sonic 3 for the money, but he’s definitely not putting in a half-hearted performance. He was born to inhabit the dual Robotnik roles and act against himself in such a ridiculously OTT manner (just wait for the dance sequence). He throws himself into both parts, giving us larger-than-life facial expressions and physical comedy and unusual line deliveries that only he could conjure up.
The voice actors also bring the goods. Elba is particularly funny as Knuckles, who says everything with seriousness and gravitas even if the situation doesn’t require it, while franchise newcomer Reeves channels his John Wick energy into the revenge-hungry Shadow.
On the live-action team, James Marsden and Tika Sumpter are given more to do this time around as Sonic’s de facto parents, Krysten Ritter appears as a stereotypically stony-faced agent and Alyla Browne stands out as Shadow’s kind human friend.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has some storytelling issues but you can easily forgive those when it’s so much fun for all the family.
In cinemas from Saturday 21st December.
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