Sonic 3 hits cinemas this weekend and it's been eagerly anticipated in our household, with both my sons, Odhran 9, and Reuben 6, desperate to catch this latest film in the series.
We were lucky to be invited to an early screening, and at the end, as the credits rolled, I turned to them and asked what they thought - 'Incredible!' Odhran said, 'There was lots of action, I found the storyline easy to follow, it was very funny, and I liked the CGI'. Reuben rated it 100 out of 10.
And this is the difficulty with Sonic 3, as I feel disinclined to rate it down on any reservations I have as an adult, because this is a kids movie - and they loved it!
Sonic, Tails and Knuckles unite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow (Keanu Reeves). He's a mysterious villain with a painful past and powers unlike any they've seen before. With their abilities outmatched they must seek out an unlikely alliance.
The film opens with a dramatic scene and keeps pace throughout. It's difficult to write a review without explaining that Jim Carrey plays more than one role in this movie, and as soon as he appears on screen, the laughs begin.
Carrey recently joked that he returned as Robotnik because he needed the money, but his performance is one of an actor enjoying every single moment, and it's that energy that sucks the audience, kids and adults alike, right in. I couldn't help but chuckle along.
Now, for the boring adult input - I couldn't help but feel Sonic 3 was grasping too hard at delivering a message. Is this a movie about the importance of team work? Is this a movie about integrity? Or is this a movie about controlling emotions, such as rage? It seemed to delve into several themes but become confused on its central message.
Another aspect I struggled with as an adult viewer was with regards to the stakes involved. In many ways, it felt a bit deus ex machina - or like listening in on your kids playing a game where one suddenly invents a superpower that will overcome the other.
But is this a movie that kids will enjoy? Absolutely. Is this family viewing that will keep adults entertained too? Absolutely, but that's thanks to Jim Carrey. In cinemas from 21 Dec.