Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (PG) |Close-Up Film Review

When Sonic’s family camping trip is interrupted by GUN requesting and requiring the help of Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails with an incident in Japan, he learns that he is not the only super-powered intergalactic hedgehog on the planet. What follows is the trademark combination of wise-cracks, physical comedy, and action.

The previous two films managed to balance action, comedy, and a surprising amount of emotion, and this film is no different. The ageless James Marsden, a gifted comedy actor in his own right returns as Tom, aka Donut Lord, alongside Tika Sumpter as Maddie. Both bring the laughs.

Jim Carrey as Robotnik brings all the physical comedy you could ever need, and despite a slightly awkward fourth wall break, also manages a surprising amount of pathos, especially at the end.

Lee Majdoub as Robotnik’s long suffering assistant Stone could have phoned it in, and it would still have been a great movie. But he brings a surprisingly vulnerable performance that’s hard to resist, and just adds to the heart in this film.

And so to the heroes. Ben Schwarz as Sonic has proved twice already that he can bring all the wise-cracks, but also a huge amount of vulnerability, and this time is no different. His fast patter, and high energy is the perfect foil for Keanu Reeves as Shadow, who takes brooding to a whole new level. Sonic is all youth and enthusiasm, Shadow is cynical and jaded. So effective are the voice actors that one scene between the two of them reduced my ten year old companion to floods of tears.  Idris Elba really leans into Knuckles, and if it’s possible for a vocal performance to chew the scenery, he does it with relish.

It is a slick, third installment. And it’s really hard to talk about without spoilers, and it deserves to be watched without spoilers.  There are plenty of belly laughs to be had, plenty of action set pieces, and plenty of pace without feeling rushed. It’s a very worthy entry into the franchise that holds its own against the two preceding entries.

And a word to the wise, stick around for the credits.