After the immense success of the first two Sonic movies, it’s no wonder that fans were ecstatic with the release of the third. Starting with their first game, SEGA released Sonic the Hedgehog way back in June of 1991 for the SEGA genesis. The game blew up in popularity, making the SEGA genesis boom in sales. Fans all over adored the heroic blue critter which, naturally, led to a successful series of movies starting in 2020.
Each Sonic movie has a trend of introducing a new character throughout the movie in a way that both makes it appealing to new audiences and provides a reiteration of an older game: Sonic Adventure 2. Shadow is an anthropomorphic hedgehog who is known to be Sonic’s rival due to his goals as “the Ultimate Lifeform”. With black quills, red highlights, and rocket shoes, the design of Shadow has garnered so many fans that the hedgehog, who was originally intended for a one-off, ended up being brought on as a permanent part of the story. The movie revolves around Shadow’s grief and how he approached it whilst keeping the type of humor and tone that would keep a child interested. Wedged between segments of comedic action, starring Sonic and his team, are serious topics that older people can relate to. By the end of the movie, a lesson is taught in how to deal with the passing of a loved one. Sonic and Shadow’s contrasting views on grief present younger audiences with two possible emotional responses and their outcomes, teaching them to rely on others for support or help.
Overall, the movie is fast-paced which makes it feel rushed. Long-term enjoyers feel that some content was skipped out on or not elaborated enough, however many are still pleased with the segments that show proper presentation of Shadow’s backstory. It’s not only a continuation of prior lore, but it also expands upon new perspectives regarding his friendship with his dear friend: Maria. The movie is fast enough to keep a child’s attention and makes sure to slow down on the important moments that are more impactful.
Personally, I adored the sound design for the movie as it had consistent musical motifs. For instance, one of the more memorable songs from this movie is titled “Live and Learn”. When watching the movie, it’s obvious that they make sure to play bits of it during exciting scenes involving Shadow, making it a bigger reveal when the full song is actually played.
Not only was the sound design good, but the casting was also pretty solid. Many people were shocked to hear that Keanu Reeves would be voicing Shadow the Hedgehog. Fans were ecstatic, finding similarities between Shadow and John Wick’s characters.
Keanu himself spoke quite a bit about his approach to finding the right voice.
“There’s something really special about the concentration and the way that you have to articulate the voice and express,” he said in an interview with CBS news.
But Keanu wasn’t the only one putting in the work; Since the first movie, Ben Schwartz has and continues to bring an enjoyable take on the blue speedster’s voice. Sounding far more cartoonish and silly, Ben Schwartz paints Sonic as a character that is both cool and humorous, appealing greatly to the young audience that the movie was targeted towards.
Furthermore, Idris Elba and Colleen O’Shaughnessey, who play Knuckles and Tails respectively, both have and continue to be superb in their voicing of their characters. Other memorable, non-animated characters, such as Eggman, Dr. Robotnik, Maddie, Tom, Maria, and Agent Stone are played excellently. Some even gained a separate following such as seen for Maria’s actor, Alyla Browne. Despite her short run time, her scenes had a large impact on the film and pivoted the tone to something more serious.
While the end of the movie was sad, the post-credits cutscene reveals a secret that would delight any Shadow fan. The third Sonic movie was a perfect balance of service to old fans as well as a fresh retelling to the newer watchers. The nature of the movie makes it suitable for children and adults alike. The third movie introduces Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic’s counterpart. The movie speaks about teamwork, grief, loneliness, and most importantly, family.
Although the pacing was rather fast throughout some parts, the movie was enjoyable. It seems this was the opinion of many others, as well, as the reviews were positive overall. The characters and the animation in the movie are done very well, regardless of the dialogue, which makes it a bit corny at times. In the end, it’s a good watch.