Because people have been embedded in video games for so long, it’s still weird. (In a good way!) to see Sonic the Hedgehog sitting high in culture. Over the past five years, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles have become bona fide movie stars. Last night I saw a performance of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which is a family event. But for a while I knew that going inside we would probably have a great time as nerd parents with a grumpy kid. I was shocked at how big of a deal this movie felt. I could feel the gravity radiating off the screen. level of passion And even the desire to make this ridiculous film work on an even more emotional level. It’s almost as if the crew were experiencing some kind of creative homecoming. Then I thought of director Jeff Fowler from nearly 20 years ago, who was part of the team on the often malevolent video game Shadow the Hedgehog.
Year of the Shadow
Because the character Shadow the Hedgehog often feels like an easy target for parody. Kind of a poster child for the “Sonic Cycle” meme that dragged the series for adding too many characters. Too many nonsense legends and lost focus on what made Sonic such a success for the next generation in the ’90s. But that’s partly because the creators behind the Sonic games made big changes to Shadow, which stands as one of the only characters that Not only does it have a sweet backstory. But it also includes live and exciting character arcs that have been expanded upon and developed from many games in other series, dominated by a Mario-like mascot running the control system. constant speed Regardless of whether a game is “good” or not, Shadow resonated with fans for different reasons than Sonic and friends, perhaps because he had his first encounter with complex real-life emotions in his formative years.
I can project it because it’s not like I know anything about Fowler or anyone behind the film on a personal level. But at times Sonic 3 almost feels like two different movies. Whenever Shadow appears on the screen Two things happen: One, this movie makes a lot of effort to invoke specific moments, storylines, and ideas from video games in a way that the last two games really didn’t. It speaks directly to Millennials like me who play Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast or GameCube II, with a combination of Keanu Reeves’ surprisingly heartfelt performance and cinematography on an almost felt level. that isn’t appropriate for the series, things feel like an attempt to adapt the Shadow Mythos in a way that feels like a conversation with A divided reputation
double effect
When the camera is on Team Sonic (there are fun nods to Sonic Heroes sprinkled throughout the movie But none of that matters for the best.) The flick feels more like the first two. It features lots of kid-friendly comedy including overwritten jokes. Pop culture references and dance moves, so danceable As a parent of a child who is perfectly suited for his age (he’s 12, which is the perfect age for Shadow), I expected this and never hated it. at all the first two times But overall the writing and jokes feel a little more natural, character-focused, and funny, helping the human characters take a bit more of a backseat this time. And I don’t have to think too much about Donut Lord’s bizarre quest to be Sonic’s father instead of his friend. I’ve never written about this series before. So I had to get that out. That part was very strange! You don’t even need the family you found to be your real family!
Family is still a big deal here. And that theme is the driving force behind Robotnik’s story. This is where the movie first suffers its losses in Hollywood’s corporate product mode. It starts out fun, with Jim Carrey bringing in Jean Claude Van Damme and playing Ivo. Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik, his long-lost grandfather. Gerald’s appearances are mostly extended comedy. (complete with some eye-catching gags) It’s an important compromise for the Shadow Mythos, but it’s an understandable one that doesn’t get in the way too much and will come back again when it matters. That said, the charming weirdness that Carrey brought to Eggman in the first two movies isn’t just doubled because of this. The tone is also dialed up to an obnoxious level that takes up far too much of the runtime.
There are several attempts at pathos between the pair (and the odd muzzle of Agent Stone), but they either feel underpaid or fall prey to sloppy editing. This was obviously done to make room for dance sequences and fight scenes that traded in true homage to video games. This is what studios Think of video games as” the comedic style that grazed the first two movies. But it hit here like a bullet in my instincts. Of course, the children in the audience likes this Which is great! They are the target audience. And the moments that feel challenging part of that equation are the aberrations. Not when toys and children are being sold. be entertained This gets in the way. It takes the oxygen out of the story thread instead of engaging it. Which is what made Carrey work so well in the past.
live and learn
I can’t stress enough how cool the atmosphere is. As jarring as “two movies” is, when Sonic 3 takes the time to explore Shadow’s past, it’s pure cinematic craftsmanship. Camera movements and shots are carefully arranged to tell a visual story and draw emotion from the viewer. The script shuts down and gives us time to think and process the information. And the story is coherent and told with a basic narrative structure when Shadow is part of the present. There will be exciting action choreography (the older brother does The Akira Slide up a building and floats into the air). That’s the movie) natural dialogue And again, it’s a sense of connection. When something else happens A green screen appeared. The camera stops being a participant. and strange inconsistencies or timing problems. Pulled me out of the movie and back into my chair. I’ve spent too much time confused about what Krysten Ritter’s character is up to, and I suspect the answer lies in the digital trash. It wasn’t as catastrophically edited as Moana 2 , to give a more recent example. But I’ve seen better movies that attempt escape. And sometimes it’s frustrating.
To be clear, I don’t hate any of the jokes or silly moments in Sonic 3, and I don’t think the whole thing should be a pretentious movie-making sequence featuring Shadow the Hedgehog. I’m a staunch supporter of Idris’s take. Elba in the Knuckles tournament and laughs every time a new fish runs out of water. I also respect these films that do the least acknowledging “real” voice actors and keep Colleen Ann O’Shaughnessey’s irreplaceable Tails. in the picture along with the selection of stunt actors. I still have mixed feelings about Ben Schwartz’s Sonic and how Blue Blur is half the character. Half of a typical contemporary family comedy. But I saw a clip of him talking about Chrono Trigger, so it’s a clean slate in my book. There’s a scene that takes place in the “Chao Garden” restaurant, which is a fun way to incorporate that element from the game, and even Shadow himself has a masterfully stream-crossing moment that had me laughing. I also enjoyed Robotnik’s antics when they weren’t sabotaging the larger picture.
While there were moments when I didn’t want to revisit Sonic the Hedgehog 3, I do. I’ve seen other movies. A couple of times because the kids Like rewatching movies in a way that makes me feel confusedly envious. But I never felt inspired myself despite enjoying it. Sonic 3 is a surprisingly good movie. It clearly took a lot of effort and care to adapt a famously complex character into the game world. Fowler’s treatment of Shadow provides a legitimate reason that he has resonated with people for more than two decades. Even though the review score is low Ignore meme and other roadblocks that we do not need to be involved in Maybe I’m looking at this too much to reflect Fowler’s history with this story. But as an observer It feels like a full circle moment. It was an opportunity that I felt was extremely rare and difficult to seize. But if there is some truth in that feeling That swing didn’t miss.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now out in theaters. Regular screening was performed for this review.
