SONIC THE HEDHEHOG 3. The Hero We Need

It must be said that Sonic truly lives up to his nickname, “faster than light.” In an era when production cycles have become so prolonged that not only do we wait several years for blockbuster sequels, but the standard gap between seasons of flagship series is increasingly shifting from one year to two, Jeff Fowler and company have managed to produce three installments of the blue hedgehog’s cinematic saga in just four orbits of the Earth around the Sun (with the addition of the Knuckles miniseries). By comparison, last year saw the release of the third installment of Paddington and the third film in the A Quiet Place universe—after ten and six years, respectively, since the debut of their original films. And most intriguingly, this rapid pace hasn’t come at the expense of the quality of the Sonic installments.

In Sonic the Hedhehog 3, we return to the titular hero at the point where we left him at the end of the second movie—enjoying a good life in Green Hills with the Wachowski family and his two alien friends, Tails and Knuckles. However, he doesn’t get to relish a peaceful picnic with his loved ones for long, as duty calls. “Team Sonic” must head to Tokyo to confront a new threat: Shadow, Sonic’s dark alter ego—a superpowered hedgehog who had been imprisoned for 50 years in a secret G.U.N. (Guardian Units of Nations) base after an experimental incident. Soon, Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of the familiar Dr. Ivo Robotnik, makes his entrance, alongside the mustachioed villain himself (both portrayed by Jim Carrey). Thus begins an adventure where the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and Sonic’s strength, as well as his morality, are tested in the showdown with Shadow.

Sonic the Hedhehog 3 skillfully expands upon themes introduced in the previous films, deriving new ideas from them. Shadow’s appearance and backstory deepen Sonic’s characterization and introduce previously absent motifs of revenge and trauma, opening the door to new dimensions of this family-oriented narrative. Dr. Robotnik’s (the younger) subplot also shines, portraying him as a more nuanced figure than the generic villain of earlier installments. The new storyline cleverly interweaves familiar elements, refreshing the narrative without losing Sonic’s core identity as an irony-tinged, pop-culture-referencing adventure with a moral undertone. It fares better than Sonic 2, which was overloaded with characters, subplots, and stakes. In “the third,” Fowler more deftly balances all the elements, engaging the audience while keeping the story contained within a reasonable 110-minute runtime.

At this point, it’s fair to talk about a Sonic Cinematic Universe and eagerly anticipate its future episodes, which are explicitly teased after the climax. For now, Fowler and his team seem to have cracked the code for adapting SEGA’s games to the screen. The voice actors deliver expressive performances for the electronic characters (with Keanu Reeves lending his voice to Shadow in this installment), Jim Carrey excels in his exaggerated, cartoonish role, and the narrative captivates, delivering solid entertainment. While some may miss the intimacy and lightheartedness of the first Sonic, which feels like a distant echo amidst the military secret plans, cosmic conspiracies, and the growing cast of characters, this shift toward a grander scale and stronger climaxes is a natural evolution for the series.

Sonic the Hedhehog 3 is a textbook example of a blockbuster designed for holiday or summer cinema outings. Its attractive and accessible format appeals to both younger and older audiences, and its broad appeal doesn’t feel forced. I dare say that the Sonic Cinematic Universe is now a more intriguing option—at least for a casual movie outing—than the major comic-based sagas. There’s no overzealousness here or barriers to entry that, in my opinion, make it harder to enjoy the latest installments from Marvel or DC. Let’s hope Sonic never changes or tries to be “serious cinema” with a somber tone—because for now, as long as there’s room for both heartfelt stories and crude jokes, this series stands as top-notch in its category. In a world of fallen titans and heroes with complexes, Sonic is the hero we need.