Idris Elba, James Marsden and Tina Sumpter all return for the latest adaptation of Sega’s blockbuster video game series, along with Ben Schwartz as the titular hero.

Three movies in, it’s not surprising that the Sonic the Hedgehog cinematic universe is starting to get more crowded.

Not being an aficionado of Sega’s Sonic video games (okay, I’ve never played one), it’s hard to comment on how well the films, which combine live-action and animation, live up to their inspirations. But judging from the enthusiastic reactions from the obvious fans at the preview screening (especially during an end credits bonus scene introducing yet another character whom I assume is beloved), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 gets the job done, and should provide entertaining diversion for families during the holiday season. It certainly possesses enough of the requisite frenetic action sequences and silly jokes to keep small fry entertained while not boring their adult chaperones. Although it’s hard to tell exactly for whom a Bea Arthur joke is intended.

Even Dr. Robotnik gets to pull at the heartstrings through his complicated relationship with his grandfather, who turns out to be the real villain of the story. Carrey has a feast with both parts, one of them commenting, “It’s like watching two characters in a movie played by the same person” in meta fashion at their first meeting. Certainly, not all of the jokes land, as when Ivo angrily says, “You and I are done … like a blackened catfish dinner!” But the actor manages the neat trick of making every line he says sound improvised — unless screenwriters Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington actually contributed such dialogue as, “I haven’t seen that since I hate-watched Green Lantern in 2011.”  

The film dutifully trots out returning human characters Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter), Sonic’s adoptive parents, but their participation in the adventure seems half-hearted at best. There are brief return appearances as well by Maddie’s angry sister Rachel (the funny Natasha Rothwell) and her husband Randall (Shemar Moore), although the way they’re shoehorned in feels silly.

Other returning players include Lee Majdoub as Ivo’s loyal henchman Agent Stone and Adam Pally as Deputy Sheriff Whipple, the latter of whom has appeared in not only all of the films but also the Knuckles TV series spinoff. A significant newcomer is Krysten Ritter as a high-ranking officer of G.U.N. — if you don’t know what that is, you’re not the target audience — but she’s sadly not given much to do.