Sonic: The Hedgehog 3

 

Movie Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 3

A bit of housekeeping first. 

Standard gamer disclaimer applies. Not a gamer. Have been aware of Sonic but know nothing of the characters beyond what’s appeared in the films. I only got into this film franchise after streaming the original 2020 film out of pure boredom one weekend and loved what I saw.

Anywho. Moving on.

As the 2024 film season draws to a close, I headed to the theater for what will probably be the last time this year, to take in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Loved the original and its sequel and had high hopes for a three-peat, especially with Jim Carrey returning (retirement my @$$) and Keanu Reeves joining the fun.  I was pleasantly surprised and reassured to see the theater parking lot and more importantly the theater itself full so early in the morning.  Both boded well.

Getting down to tacks of brass, I’m thrilled to report that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is definitely a winner! Yes!

This hour and forty-nine-minute movie is easily the best film in the franchise which says quite a bit given the strength of the previous two films. From the opening shot through the final credit sequence, I was not only fully engaged, entertained, and emotionally invested, but delighted as the story unfolded.

The music is great. Yes, there was seat dancing and quiet singing to be had. I apologize to no one for either of those things.

The upgraded CGI work delivers a powerful visual punch that allows you to just get lost in the world of Sonic and be swept up in the story. 

Score! 

Speaking of the story, Sonic 3 has a solid script with snappy dialogue, humor, heart, inside jokes, and pop cultural reference that work. Emotion coupled with well-balanced storylines, which do justice to both new and returning characters. 

Great action sequences which thrill and expansive world building without skimping on characterization. Ahhh, the characters...kudos all the way around. The returning crew are at the top of their game and deliver once again in spades. The performances are complex, nuanced, dark, emotional, fun, heartbreaking etc. Three dimensional performances from top to bottom and everyone gets a chance to shine.

Adding Keanu Reeves in the mix as Shadow? A chef’s kiss of casting. Think John Wick as a brooding, vengeful hedgehog. It works. 

As for Jim Carrey returning? He definitely brings his A game. There’s a reason he has the additional credit of “artistic consultant” after becoming more involved in this project than ever before. His impact is significant and power up the entire production.

Sonic 3 is simply a joy from beginning to end. Appealing to young kids up through grandparents. I and everyone in my showing had a blast. There were cheers, applause, speculation on a fourth film, and consternation of having to wait at least a couple of years for any hope of a new installment.  

According to overheard conversations in the bathroom after, the fan service is on point. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 does sequels right. 

Obviously, all involved in this project really care about the product they put out. They’ve taken feedback from the fans, their own love for the characters, and have delivered the goods. No one is resting on the franchise name alone to carry the project, and it shows.  Very refreshing.

Sonic 3 made me glad I made the effort to venture to the theater and see it on the big screen in a packed house. Check it out if you have the need for speed and be sure to stick around for the 2 credit sequences, one mid, one end.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in three words.

Fun. 

Feels. 

Fantastic. 

A satisfying end to my 2024 film season which had me grinning ear to ear. A true Christmas treat. Looking forward to watching this again,

As such Sonic the Hedgehog 3 gets a 10 from me.

#sonicmovie3

Mufasa: The Lion King

 

Since the release of the original animated film in 1994, I’ve been a huge fan of The Lion King. Upon seeing the first trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King, I was choked up with emotion and stoked to see it in the theater. The opportunity to see the origin story of the lion who would become king and would go on to be part of one of my favorite Disney movies filled me with joy.  As the release date neared, rumblings of less than stellar reviews began, and I started to get anxious about the film living up to my hopes. I still showed up at y local theater opening day, with an open mind and high expectations.

Upon arrival, I was nervous seeing how the showing was largely empty. I caught the first show which happened to be in 3D (not that anything in the film was enhanced in my opinion), but even later and cheaper showings were sparsely attended when I checked online. 

Almost 24 hours later and I’m still mulling over and sorting out my feelings/views on this one. Here's where I'm landing and I'm sorry it's not more positive.

Visually, with the exception of a couple of instances, Mufasa: The Lion King is stunning and another triumph in photorealistic animation. It's really beautiful to look at. The actual premise is solid and does well functioning as both a prequel and a sequel. However, that’s pretty much the highlights of the film and also where the wheels fall off.

The execution of Mufasa just falls short and definitely left me wanting. 

Crafting a prequel is a daunting task since we already know the outcome going in, but Mufasa feels clumsier in its handling than most.  The storytelling through flashbacks is disjointed and uneven with seemingly random bouncing around between past and present continually pulling you out of the narrative. The use of Pumbaa and Timon is distracting to say the least and downright annoying. 

While the plot is solid, the narrative fails to fully get and keep you engaged, especially during the first half of the film.  Forty minutes into the 2-hour runtime, multiple checks of my watch, and I pretty much resigned myself to the fact I really didn’t care about any of these characters.  I wasn't given any real reason to. I know where the story is heading, give me a reason to care about the characters and where they started. That doesn't happen and the character development is cursory at best. 

There’s a lack of heart, emotion, or depth across the board, which left me disappointed. I really wanted to be drawn in, involved, and to care, but other than a handful of brief moments here and there, none of that happened. The second half of the film is better, but even with that, overall, I never got fully invested in the story.

Even the music fell short this time around. There were a couple of songs I enjoyed but the rest were...meh. Nothing too memorable when all is said and done.

And that right there is the crux of it for me. 

Mufasa: The Lion King isn’t awful, but it isn’t memorable either. It’s shiny and eye catching, but bland and uninspired. It’s telling that James Earl Jones himself passed on the opportunity to reprise his role in this film when offered the chance. It’s dedicated to him nonetheless but doesn’t live up to the legacy he helped create with this character. There's just no meat on the bones of this story and it's a crying shame.

Mufasa: The Lion King gets a 6.5 from me, mostly due to visuals and nostalgia.

#Mufasa