Sonic the Hedgehog 3 comes running guns blazing into the big screen, and while being the third installment to what is now a movie franchise, the magic of the blue blur has only gotten stronger, better, and faster. This one is for the fans.
One of my earliest memories as a kid was moving closer to the TV on a rainy afternoon, school’s out, and my brother and I would fire up our dad’s Sega Genesis and play 1991’s Sonic the Hedgehog video game. Of course, I was too young to be any good, but I spent hours watching my brother roll up into a blue ball and go through hoops and loops collecting rings in a forest that looked like a theme park. And so to see Sonic succeeding as a movie franchise brings forward decades of memories, akin to seeing an old friend. The third entry into this franchise continues this tradition in great stride.
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 follows the story of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and now introducing Shadow to the franchise. Shadow was always meant to be the darker, more mature version of Sonic. In Japanese pop culture tropes, the main protagonist always gets a brooding and more serious counterpart, either as fan service for fans looking for the resident bad boy, or to create a stark contrast to the main hero aimed towards character development. In the Dragon Ball franchise, this would be Vegeta. In Final Fantasy 7, this would be your Vincent Valentine. Sonic had Shadow.
The film, to the relief of skeptics and anxious long-time fans, did an almost perfect job capturing the personality, goals, ambitions, and look of Shadow, who is the real focus of the story. Understandably, the story in a film meant for children, let alone one based on Sonic, is not deep or moving in any way. However, the introduction of the story of Shadow provided the step forward the franchise needed to a relatively more high stakes, and more emotional, storyline. The film lets the audience walk Shadow’s path of vengeance leading to his eventual realization of his true calling, a hero.
The magic of the blue blur has only gotten stronger, better, and faster.
When I say that this film was made for the fans, I mean to say that fan service is all over the film, front and center, yet all presented in good taste. For instance, long time fans of Shadow know that he is a relatively controversial character, portrayed in several game entries as using guns and carelessly riding a motorcycle. Accurately, the film does not shy away from Shadow’s history and gives us an epic chase sequence with Shadow riding a motorcycle, using futuristic guns, through the Tokyo streets. The scene from the trailer where Sonic and Shadow transform into Super Sonic and Super Shadow using the Master Emerald does not disappoint either, layering the sequence with homages to Dragon Ball and their transformation into Super Saiyan forms. There are an infinitely many more easter eggs, homages, and fourth wall breaking throughout the film, and as a pop culture fan, you will be turning up to a buffet. Do your best to watch the film surrounded by fans, and experience the moviehouse erupt and cheer when the Piko Piko Hammer comes flying out from the trees.
Lastly, the humor was reasonably difficult to balance for a potential target audience of both kids and older, middle-aged, fans. While the older fans might recognize the easter eggs and the details they put in the various action sequences, some of the humor may come across as off putting as they are designed for the next generation. But ultimately, humor that catches the attention of the kids the right direction to take, because what the Sonic franchise needs are new fans.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a roll into the right direction. It is a blast to watch, and certainly pays tribute to the decades long fans who are always supportive to see our favorite blue blur in action. If this movie’s success is any indication, we are bound for a fourth movie, with Metal Sonic, Rose, and possibly more of the cast joining the fray. As a fan, the next adventure of Sonic cannot go fast enough.
Score: 8/10
The film opens in Philippine cinemas on January 15, 2025. Click here for more stories like this. You may also follow and subscribe to our social media accounts: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, and Kumu.
