The good old Blur Blur has come a long way from his humble origins on the classic Sega Genesis gaming console in 1991. Once conceived as a mascot for SEGA and rival to Nintendo’s superstar poster boy, Mario Sonic, is now a pop culture icon in his own right, with a movie trilogy under his belt.

After beating Dr. Eggman in his last outing with the help of his family, Sonic, voiced by Ben Schwartz, settles back into what passes as normalcy. The two-tailed fox (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba) have both been adopted into the family by the Wachowski (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter). As you might have guessed, their little slice of paradise is interrupted when the Guardian Units of Nations (G.U.N. for short) come for their help in dealing with a situation in Tokyo.

The third installment brings in fan-favorite Shadow, voiced by the equally iconic Keanu Reeves. Also a hedgehog but sporting sleek, black, and red fur, Shadow plays the exact opposite of Sonic, like a distorted mirror reflection, bringing a new dynamic to the group and a new side of Sonic’s personality.

Jim Carrey, as incomparable as ever, returns as not just one but two villains. Aside from reprising his role as Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik, he also fills the shoes of his grandfather, Dr. Gerald Robotnik. Twice the evil means twice the fun, and Carrey delivers with his signature over-the-top physical wackiness. It's not that he does anything new; he just does what he does so well.

Make no mistake, this movie is aimed at kids. The slapstick dancing through the laser field says a lot. Thankfully, it doesn’t forget those grown-ups who met Sonic as kids several decades ago. Much of the humor, at least for fans who are a bit advanced in age, comes from puns and pot-shots at all things pop culture. Few youngins would get the references, but for old timers, they are a riot.

As a bonus, stay until the end credits, and you’ll see a scene that sets up a possible fourth film and that brought yelps and howls from happy fans that rival anything from a Marvel movie.

Sonic 3 is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Whether you’re a veteran fan who grew up on Sonic with the Sega Genesis and later consoles, or watching with your friends. Or if you’re bringing your kids to share your childhood with them, this movie is clean family fun for any age group or fandom background.