On the Edge of Tomorrow – Sonic 3 (2024) Review

If you had told me as a kid in the early 2000s that Sonic would have a movie trilogy, I would’ve lost my mind. As someone who greatly enjoyed both Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), I was excited about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024). As many of you know, I extensively covered the film throughout 2024.

Now that film is out, does this high-speed adventure meet fan expectations, while offering families and fans of action films an enjoyable experience? Or does Sonic and his friends hit the pavement after a rough sprint?

Not only does the Blue Blur get across the finish line, but he also offers one of his best adventures in any medium.

What is ‘Sonic 3’ About?

Following the events of both Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) and Knuckles (2024), Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and his family are enjoying a time of peace before G.U.N. arrives and tells them they need help. A new threat, a contained alien creature named ‘Shadow’, has been released and Team Sonic races to the scene. But after a swift beat-down by the Ultimate Lifeform, Sonic and his friends try to get more answers and even work with the returning Dr. Eggman.

For newcomers to the Sonic series, you can easily jump into Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) without getting confused. While they make many references to the games, past films, and even the Knuckles show, the story is one anyone can enjoy.

Escape the City – Story

With the inclusion of Shadow the Hedgehog and other elements featured in the film, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) directly adapts the 2001 classic Sonic Adventure 2. The well-paced story reflects this, with major set-pieces and moments flowing well with one another.

From Sonic and Shadow duking it out in Tokyo to the utterly fantastic final third of the film, you are on the edge of your seat with how often the action kicks into high gear. It’s a departure from Sonic 1 and Sonic 2, where they had slower pacing to include the human cast in more prominent roles.

In Sonic 3, the human cast is well utilized, with Sonic’s adaptive parents Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) being major highlights. They aren’t in the film for too long, but when they show up, it’s genuinely funny and them directly helping Team Sonic with a major moment was well done.

Gotta Go Fast – Sonic and his Friends Characterization

Something I loved in these movies is how they adapted Sonic’s character. Unlike the games, where he’s a seasoned adventurer who has seen much on his travels, Movie Sonic isn’t that. He is a kid who lost everything but remained positive.

Sonic 1 specifically comes to mind, where there is one pivotal moment that kickstarts the film’s entire adventure where Sonic realizes how alone he truly is and does the one thing he can to ease his pain.

Transforming from this lonely kid finding a family in Sonic 1 and finding brothers in Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba) in Sonic 2, to where he is in Sonic 3, was masterfully done. He has the confidence of the Sonic we see in the video game series. But he also has a strong protective rage. If you mess with people he cares about, you will be a black mark on the floor.

Many versions of the character explored this side of Sonic, from Dark Super Sonic from Sonic X, to some iconic moments from the Archie Comic, and key moments in games like Sonic & the Secret Rings. The final third of the movie directly builds on this and the payoff made me smile like an idiot.

The rest of Team Sonic shines, with Tails offering aid with cool gadgets and being part of major moments throughout the film. Knuckles is also fantastic, being able to be serious and comedic when the situation calls for it. And if you enjoyed the Knuckles (2024) show, be on the lookout for a true warrior.

E.G.G.M.E.N.

Jim Carey is no stranger to being amazing in films. One of my favorite films from him was the late 90s The Grinch, being completely crazy and embodying the role to a tee. With the Sonic movies, he eats up the role of Eggman, channeling a unique energy from the games.

Eggman is just as egotistical in the games. However, the movie version of the character is slightly more grounded, and having Jim Carey playing the role gives new life to the legendary gaming villain.

His thought-to-be-dead grandfather Gerald Robotnik, is also played by Jim Carey and he manages to make him a dark mirror to our good doctor. Many moments in the film, both characters are in the same scene together and I laughed hard at how they captured Jim’s trademark chaotic comedy.

What I didn’t expect, was how Gerald would be adapted from the games. In the games, he is crazy like Eggman, but he only got that way from a major loss, fueling his dark drive for revenge. In Sonic 3, he’s a character that follows a similar plot beat, but as the viewer, you begin to ask ‘Was he always like this’. And I never asked that question after seeing him in Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), and most recently Shadow Generations.

Mr. Unsmiley – Characterization of Shadow

The biggest addition to the movie universe is Shadow the Hedgehog, voiced by Keanu Reeves. The character of Shadow is one the games built up over many years, with recent efforts in Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings and Shadow Generations nailing why he’s such a fantastic character in the Sonic series.

To little surprise, Keanu nails his role as Shadow. Throughout the film, viewers see how he got to Earth and his connection to Maria Robotnik through flashbacks. What struck me the most about the character, is how Shadow doesn’t fight unless promoted.

He’s a character who went through the same suffering Sonic himself went through in Sonic 1, but key differences change what defines them as people. Sonic, found family and friends and stayed positive. Shadow, never had the chance to grieve on his own. He never had a chance to find someone who could genuinely love him after his major loss. And most damning, was never treated as his person, just a ‘thing’ that people want to use.

Seeing Sonic and Shadow interact with each other is like literal reflections looking at one another, desperately trying to figure out what is driving them. The games explore a unique rivalry between the hedgehogs, but the movie does it in a way I didn’t expect and find quite interesting.

The team behind Sonic 3 clearly understood Shadow as a character and when some adaptations miss the point on iconic characters, that cannot be appreciated enough.

Never Giving Up the Fight – Audio/Music

For a franchise known for its amazing music, the Sonic film franchise had lackluster musical scores. While hearing Green Hill Zone from Sonic 1 (1991) and the unexpected rendition of the Drowning theme in Sonic 2 (2022) was nice, more game music would be welcome in these productions. More so considering Nintendo and Illumination nailed this aspect of the Super Mario Brothers Movie score.

Thankfully, Sonic 3 understood this and the film offers a great score. While I don’t want to spoil what additional songs appear in the film, hearing Sonic Adventure 2’s ‘Live and Learn’ used in a variety of ways throughout Sonic 3 was fantastic.

Outside of the fan aspect of the score, many of the music pieces add to the emotion of the scenes and add the impact they need too.

Closing Thoughts

I knew that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) would be an enjoyable film for me, as someone who loved the prior films. But I didn’t expect to be blown away. A tight story that never slows down on the action, well-written cast of characters, nailing Shadow as a character, and a musical score that honors the games they come from, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) is a film I cannot recommend enough.

If you are seeing the Blue Blur and friends over the holiday season, let us know in the comments below. And if you want more Sonic content, feel free to check out our impressions on the Sonic 3 Movie Pack DLC for Sonic X Shadow Generations!