It’s 2019, SEGA and Paramount unveil the trailer for their live-action film inspired by the franchise Sonic and there: it’s a disaster. The nightmarish design of the blue hedgehog breaks the internet and signs the death warrant of the project even before its theatrical release. At that time, no one could have imagined that Sonic would end up carrying his own cinematic saga a few years later. But ultimately, it was by learning from their mistakes and listening to fans that the two entertainment giants managed to turn the tide.
SEGA and Paramount demonstrated their goodwill by reworking the film in its entirety. This colossal effort even had the effect of a real trigger in Hollywood. The studios quickly understood that fan service was the missing element to succeed in this type of adaptation. Mario, The Last of Us, Fallout and other projects have applied the same recipe successfully, but Sonic still one step ahead. After two feature films and a spin-off series, the hedgehog cinematic universe is on the rise but is still struggling to gain unanimous support. This is how you arrive Sonic 3 the moviewhich bets on bringing everyone together by pushing back all limits. By seeking to please at all costs, SEGA and Paramount are embarking on dangerous territory but against all odds manage to maintain a fragile balance.
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The magic of Sonic Adventure 2 hits the mark
From the logo to its scenario introducing Shadow, Sonic 3 the movie fully assumes its connections with Sonic Adventure 2 since its first extracts. This game, released for the first time on the Dreamcast in 2001, is still considered the pinnacle of Sonic in 3D. By banking on such a juggernaut of the video game franchise, the new feature film was quick to arouse the curiosity of players. But it’s a double-edged sword. Sonic Adventure 2 is a monument that should not be desecrated. SEGA could have fallen into the trap of reference torrenting and fan service, an approach criticized Super Mario Bros the Movie by many spectators.
But here, it is clear that the recipe is mastered. As on social networks, you have to know how to use the right tricks to gain the attention of spectators. Sonic 3 therefore places most of its references during the first 30 minutes for a galvanizing effect. The pace is captivating, fun and serves as a reminder of the key elements that inspire this new story. Subsequently, the references are rather sporadic and integrated more naturally. This therefore allows the film to build its own identity in order to please novices, while keeping familiar and respected bases for early fans. The nostalgia factor of Sonic Adventure 2 et Shadow the Hedgehog is perfectly balanced. Players will find everything they wanted to see, without feeling like they are drowning in Easter eggs.
Sonic succeeds where Marvel fails
Since the first film, the cinematic universe of the hedgehog draws on the codes of the great blockbusters. So obviously, the connection with Marvel is obvious. Sonic shares one of its greatest faults with the latest productions of the Maison des Idées: the dissonance between seriousness and humor. Wanting to repeat the success of films like Guardians of the Galaxy et Ant-Manwhere a lighter tone proved itself, Marvel ended up falling into involuntary parody with catastrophic productions such as Thor : Love and Thunder. The first two films Sonic suffered from a similar syndrome. The storyline was never serious, but the comedy was also not sufficiently assertive to justify the lack of interest in the writing. We then find ourselves with a passable adventure and jokes bordering on the uncomfortable.
Rather than relying on this recipe which only half worked, Sonic 3 the movie decides to take risks and go all out. Who would have thought that the best way to make solemn and crazy moments coexist lay in one-upmanship on both sides? With the introduction of the character Shadow and his tortured past, SEGA and Paramount have the opportunity to tell a poignant story and they don’t hold back. But to contrast with this darker aspect, Sonic, Tails Knuckles and Eggman are more twisted than ever. This time, the Nanardesque humor is fully assumed and does not hesitate to delve into an absurd genre usually specific to internet memes. Without ever falling into a silly comedy like Skibidi Toilet, Sonic 3 the movie manages to make us laugh out loud without generating discomfort. For a joke to be effective, you must first believe it. And despite these many offbeat moments, Shadow’s sad journey does not lose a bit of its intensity. This shows that the much-maligned recipe of the most recent Marvel films can work if you go for it without half-measures.
There remains a dark side…
…But we’re not talking about Shadow. And Sonic 3 the movie emerges as very effective entertainment, everything is far from perfect in this production. First, let’s talk French. We are lucky to live in a country where the cultural industry is home to legendary voice actors, and it is precisely this asset that ends up weighing on the film. To respond to the five-star casting of the original version, Paramount France has worked hard. Marie-Eugénie Maréchal reprized her role of Tails which she usually plays in video games, Frantz Confiac is the French voice of Idris Elba and therefore takes on the role of Knuckles while for this third opus, the French voice of Keanu Reeves , Jean-Pierre Michaël, is also on board to bring Shadow to life. The big names follow one another with the presence of Emmanuel Curtil for the voice of Jim Carrey as Eggman, no star talent in sight… Except for the big hero.
Malik Bentala returns to action in the role of the hedgehog after being hung up on the first feature film in 2020. But when the actors who give him the answer are veterans who redouble their efforts, suffice to say that the comedian’s performance is all the more blemish. The vocal contrast between the protagonist and the rest of the characters is extremely frustrating and even has the potential to spoil the mood of certain scenes. To launch Sonic’s punchlines, Malik Bentala is pretty good, but you’re going to have to take dramatic theater lessons… Paramount France finds itself stuck with a star talent tired of being involved in a film franchise while everyone was imagining it. failure of the first film.
In addition to this problem specific to the French version, Sonic 3 the movie also suffers from some writing problems. The human actors (with the exception of Jim Carrey) have become almost useless, reduced to the state of comic pretext, which also has the consequence of reducing the emotional impact of certain scenes. This nevertheless allows video game mascots to take the lead and shine to their full potential. Most of the scenario is carried by the story of Shadow and Maria, which is very well exploited despite some differences with the game Shadow the Hedgehog. However, the structure of the feature film unfortunately remains uneven. The adventure follows the classic codes of blockbusters and therefore invents nothing, but still manages to remain entertaining without falling into boredom. The film’s major fault lies rather in its conclusion, which unfolds so quickly that one comes to wonder if it is indeed the end. Sonic is known for his speed but there are limits. Fortunately, Sonic 3 features two post-credits scenes that provide a little more context and are sure to delight fans. Appointment in French cinemas on December 25 to form your own opinion on this adaptation.
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