IR Film Review: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 [Paramount]

The progression of a Sonic movie can be bathed on the notion of a bad guy and getting to the next stage in the ladder of both character and stories. “Sonic The Hedgehog 3” bodes well because in many ways, it takes a structural reference from anime. Sonic now has two of his friends but there needs to be heavier stakes without losing the lightness. The weakness of the films is its human components in a way. The first two films did , in some ways, establish a stable home life and a sense of support for Sonic, especially in the context of Robotnik. Jim Carrey in many ways operates in a different film most of the time than he usually is in. This film is no exception but in a way, even though it seems to operate separately it tends to come into balance in a way with the rest of the film.

The fuel that is pushing it this time is definitely Shadow (voiced by Keanu Reeves). His approach gives the film a gravity that the other films didn't. Shadow is broken. He is hurt...and the reasoning makes sense. In many ways, if one looks at the progression there is a slight comparison to "Akira" which is a film Reeves supposedly was interested in doing efor many years. Even the climax of the film in both its intent and resolution reflects this. The most entertaining element by far though is Jim Carrey but interestingly enough not for the character he established but the supposed evil scientist/grandfather that he plays opposite of. There is a license he takes because there is no expectation. The dance sequence at one point is just sheer luncacy with no connection to reality or story...but in that moment it doesn't really matter.

The unqiue aspect is that still after all these years, Carrey can out energize CGI. He just had to get out of his own way and not care so much. But that said, when you see the turnaround and the perspective of the character, it works, even though, again, the logic of the entire gambit is nonsensical. Again sequels are fueled by the next one they are creating but the formula always keeps getting diluted. 'Sonic 3" in a way is better than the first 2 because it gets of its own way. It does some interesting things but it is trapped inside its own gimmck. The reason it succeeds as much as it does is because of the dichotomy of stories between Reeves' Shadow and the double Robotnik trouble. Otherwise it blows wherever the wind might take it, which literally is somewhere which causes only cartoon damage. B-

By Tim Wassberg