SHERLOCK GNOMES – Review

So Easter’s just around the corner, and most kids are already enjoying that great Spring-time break from school. So where are the “all ages” movies at the multiplex? Those fightin’ giant robots may be a bit too violent for the wee ones (the same could be said of a trip to Wakanda). And that “Time Wrinkle” is a quite a “snoozefest”(if it’s still playing “first run”). Peter Rabbit and Paddington may have hopped and scampered away, on the road to VOD and DVD. Before the Incredibles return, how about a sequel to a modest kid flick from seven years ago? Wish granted as the lovebirds from 2011’s GNOMEO AND JULIET are back, and they’re not alone. Another famous literary property (in the public domain, too) joins the talking ceramics fun. As he states several times in the film, he’s the world’s greatest detective AND the protector of gnomes everywhere. He’s non other than super-sleuth SHERLOCK GNOMES. Oh, his side-kick Dr. Watson’s lends a hand, along with a grappling hook cane.

As the film starts, a trio of tiny gnomes (called goons) are debating what new story to tell. As they rest on a big volume of A.C. Doyle’s’ masterworks, it’s decided that they’ll tell a tale of Sherlock Gnomes (voice of Johnny Depp). Actually they begin near the end of an adventure as Gnomes and Watson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) rescue of group of gnomes about to be smashed by a criminal mastermind, that tasty pie marketing mascot, Moriarty (Jamie Demetriou). The heroes triumph and the villain is smashed by his own trap. All’s well…for now. Meanwhile Gnomeo (James McAvoy), Juliet (Emily Blunt) and all their ceramic pals are getting a new home. Their human owners have moved from the country into a cozy London house complete with a much smaller garden. With the new surroundings, the groups leaders, Lady Blueberry (Maggie Smith) and Lord Redbrick), decide to retire and hand over their duties to Gnomeo and Juliet. Unfortunately the new job keeps the lovers apart. To rekindle the romance Gnomeo decides to procure a special flower from a nearby shop. Just before he’s caught, Juliet arrives in the nick of time to rescue him. When they return home, all their friends are gone…as Sherlock and Watson arrive. They’re investigating a string of gnome disappearances from London gardens (the locales form a massive “M” on the city map). Could Moriarty still be on the loose? The two duos team up to find clues that will hopefully lead them to their missing friends. But can they locate them before the criminal kingpin smashes them to bits?

As far as animated flicks for the kiddies go, this trifle lands just about in the middle, nowhere near the glorious heights of COCO or PADDINGTON 2 but more bearable than the migraine inducing ANGRY BIRDS or HOODWINKED! The voice cast does their best to give the story an energetic boost, though the countless supporting gnomes began to sound a bit alike. Depp does a serviceable take on the master sleuth, only dropping into a touch of Jack Sparrow sporadically while Ejiofor is almost unrecognizable as his put-upon aide. Full disclosure: I’ve never seen the former film in this series, but I recall that one of its big selling points was the use of Elton John’s song catalog (he’s also one of the producers). The same is true this time around, with one song becoming a sexy show-stopper from a sultry Mary J. Blige as a doll (literally) from Sherlock’s’ past (I was reminded of Rihanna’s big number from last Summer’s sci-fi flop VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS). Unfortunately the background score is annoyingly intrusive in the film’s first act, trying way too hard to establish a “whimsical” vibe (really, it’s okay to just listen to the dialogue and sound effects). Fortunately the movie calms  as the mystery unfolds and the manic gnome slapstick is toned down. Their character design is good, but I was impressed with the looks of Moriarty (a distant cousin of THE SHAPE OF WATER’s diner mascot crossed with an unhinged menace from John K’s “Ren and Stimpy” TV cast) and his two creepy, dimwitted gargoyle henchmen. The CGI rendered London backdrops are well done as are two detours, one to an oriental emporium (ninja cats) and a toy shop with a hulking teddy bear bouncer. One very pleasant surprise was the use of “old school” 2D drawn animation to show the inner workings inside Sherlock’s head (the end credits call it his “mind palace”). In one sequence his Baker Street digs become an M.C. Escher maze of curling staircases, all rendered in a “pen and ink” style that recalls master animator Richard Williams (happy belated 85th to the genius behind WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT and the Pink Panther feature titles). At least the flick’s 90 minute running time doesn’t give it a chance to drag (with previews, well…). It may amuse the youngest of viewers , but if you want to introduce them to Doyle’s detective, THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE is a summit that’s well beyond the grasp of SHERLOCK GNOMES. That comparison is  truly elementary.

3 Out of 5