Smallfoot Keeps Both Feet on the Ground

The Golden Age of Hollywood showcased the best of Warner Bros animation with the Looney Toons. In the nineties, they flourished on television with Tiny Toons and Animaniacs but the same couldn't be said for its theatrical set. Space Jam was the only film that did well critically and financially, the rest were either loved by critics but made no money at the box-office (The Iron Giant, Cat's Don't Dance), or bomb with both critics and audiences (Quest For Camelot, The King and I). Despite a lukewarm reception from critics, Osmosis Jones and Looney Toons: Back in Action were what Home on the Range was to Disney: financial failures that shut down the studio's animation division.

WB's Animated Roster, not including the Looney Tunes compilation films
and Pokemon merchandise.

The following years did give us Clifford's Really Big Movie, The Ant Bully and Happy Feet but those were done by other production companies that were distributed by Warner Bros. It wouldn't be until 2014 that WB Animation, now renamed Warner Animation Group (WAG), would resurrect with The Lego Movie. Since then, it's been a box-office hit after another with Storks, Lego Batman and Ninjago. Which brings us to their fifth animated comedy Smallfoot, a movie that embraces what made WB's earlier properties work: hilarious slapstick, clever writing, funny dialogue, likable characters, great animation, self-aware jokes, and catchy songs.

Hidden high above the clouds in the snowy mountains is a village of Yetis who live in perfect harmony. Their history and rules are set in stone guarded by the Stonekeeper (Common) leader of the clan. Everyone has a job that keeps the village running, for Migo (Channing Tatum), its being the next gong ringer like his father Dorgle (Danny DeVito). Basically the town's alarm clock. During a practice run, Migo encounters a human or smallfoot as they call it, a creature believed to be a myth. No one believes him because such a statement is blasphemous to what written in the stones. With the help of a small group of outcasts lead by Stonekeeper's daughter Meechee (Zendaya) Migo heads off to find the smallfoot who happens to be a fading wildlife TV host Percy Patterson (James Corden).

This might sound like a predictable set-tip but by the middle do things take for a different turn on a Zootopia level with allegorical themes on curiosity, communication, belief, and building bridges. It takes it even further than Zootopia on having no villain. They way certain characters act are explained with great detail and while you don't agree with their actions you understand why they do it, and puts protagonist in conflict with himself. From a movie that seemed like a run-of-the-mill children's movie, I didn't expect it to be so deep. 

Did I forget to mention that it's a musical comedy? I don't remember being advertised as such. Seeing the characters all of a sudden burst into song at the beginning took me by surprise. The music is catchy but all throughout I was thinking: Channing Tatum can sing! Can't remember the last time I tapped my feet to a Non-Disney musical.

Zendaya, Channing Tatum, Gina Rodriguez,
Common, Lebron James, James Corden & Yara Shahidi.

I'd forgotten who most of the cast were until the end credits and everyone does superb. Hearing Danny Devito in a animated film is always a delight, and on fist glance I thought Common was weird choice but then he is giving a rap solo and it surprisingly meshes well. For all you Rick and Morty fans think you can catch Justin Roliand's distinct vocals? Here's a hint: he plays a background named Garry.

Smallfoot will be enjoyed by kids and adults should at least give it a chance. Some of the humor may not land but everything else should. It's not great but it's a movie I enjoyed more than I thought I would.

Final Verdict: B+