‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Review: Keanu Reeves and Jim Carrey in a Zippy Sequel That Gets the Job Done

Three movies in, it’s not surprising that the Sonic the Hedgehog cinematic universe is starting to get more crowded.

The second installment, released in 2022, saw the arrival of the title character’s (Ben Schwartz) animal cohorts Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba). They’re now joined for the action-packed third entry by archnemesis Shadow, another, even more powerful hedgehog voiced by none other than Keanu Reeves. And Jim Carrey has not only abandoned his short-lived retirement to return as the mad scientist Dr. Ivo Robotnik, he does dual service as Ivo’s 110-year-old but very sprightly grandfather Gerald. Because when you snag Jim Carrey for the third in a series of video game movie adaptations, it’s a shame to waste him in only one role.

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Not being an aficionado of Sega’s Sonic video games (okay, I’ve never played one), it’s hard to comment on how well the films, which combine live-action and animation, live up to their inspirations. But judging from the enthusiastic reactions from the obvious fans at the preview screening (especially during an end credits bonus scene introducing yet another character whom I assume is beloved), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 gets the job done, and should provide entertaining diversion for families during the holiday season. It certainly possesses enough of the requisite frenetic action sequences and silly jokes to keep small fry entertained while not boring their adult chaperones. Although it’s hard to tell exactly for whom a Bea Arthur joke is intended.

Reeves makes a fine addition to the cast, infusing his voice portrayal of the menacing Shadow, who’s just escaped from a laboratory after 50 years of captivity, with the same gravitas he brings to the similarly revenge-obsessed John Wick. In his first encounter with Sonic and company, Shadow observes, “You’re a colorful bunch” with a quiet condescension, and he’s all the scarier for the lack of overt menace. He also has a tragic backstory that gives the character unexpected emotional depth.

Even Dr. Robotnik gets to pull at the heartstrings through his complicated relationship with his grandfather, who turns out to be the real villain of the story. Carrey has a feast with both parts, one of them commenting, “It’s like watching two characters in a movie played by the same person” in meta fashion at their first meeting. Certainly, not all of the jokes land, as when Ivo angrily says, “You and I are done … like a blackened catfish dinner!” But the actor manages the neat trick of making every line he says sound improvised — unless screenwriters Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington actually contributed such dialogue as, “I haven’t seen that since I hate-watched Green Lantern in 2011.”  

The film dutifully trots out returning human characters Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter), Sonic’s adoptive parents, but their participation in the adventure seems half-hearted at best. There are brief return appearances as well by Maddie’s angry sister Rachel (the funny Natasha Rothwell) and her husband Randall (Shemar Moore), although the way they’re shoehorned in feels silly.

Other returning players include Lee Majdoub as Ivo’s loyal henchman Agent Stone and Adam Pally as Deputy Sheriff Whipple, the latter of whom has appeared in not only all of the films but also the Knuckles TV series spinoff. A significant newcomer is Krysten Ritter as a high-ranking officer of G.U.N. — if you don’t know what that is, you’re not the target audience — but she’s sadly not given much to do.

Director Jeff Fowler, repeating his assignment from the two previous features, demonstrates a clear ability to bring the Sonic characters to cinematic life, delivering a well-balanced, fast-paced blend of action and slapstick comedy that, in this case, takes place in such scenic locales as Tokyo and London. (Inevitably, the cities wind up worse for the wear.) No one will mistake the unimaginatively titled Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for sophisticated entertainment. But that’s clearly not what its audiences are looking for.