Smallfoot

Smallfoot

Starring Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common

Directed by Karey Kirkpatrick & Jason Reisig

The Story:
High in the Himalayas, the Yeti live believing that their mountain is actually an island, surrounded by clouds and held up by animals to keep them from sinking into an abyss.  They believe this because it's told in sacred stones that tell their story, and the Stonekeeper (Common) keeps them close and tells everyone if they have any questions to just push them away.

For Migo (Channing Tatum), ignorance is bliss, as he gleefully enjoys his days as he awaits his future job of being the gong ringer who ushers the arrival of the sun snail everyday - a job held by his father Dorgle (Danny DeVito).  One day he encounters a plane crash and meets a Smallfoot - which he believed never existed - and when he tries to convince the townspeople, he's met with disbelief, except for those who believe in Smallfoot and hold that there's more to the world than what they're told.  Migo is taken in by Meechee (Zendaya), Gwangi (LeBron James), Kolka (Gina Rodriguez) and Fleem (Ely Henry), who believe Migo's story, and convince him to go below the clouds to find the truth.

Meanwhile, wildlife documentary filmmaker Percy Patterson (James Corden) is struggling to find an audience, and plans to stage a Bigfoot attack to boost ratings.  When Migo arrives in his town, Percy is shocked to discover a real Bigfoot, and is taken by Migo back to his home to prove that Smallfoot exists - but this opens a can of worms that threaten both societies, as both are fearful of the other, and raises questions about the precious stones that everyone once thought were completely correct, but it also opens the minds of the other Yeti to a new possible world they never knew existed.

The Synopsis:
Kids films generally fall into two different categories: those exclusively for kids, and those that the entire family can enjoy.  Those geared just for kids are often insufferable for the parents to sit through, and include nothing of substance but instead tries to dazzle little minds with bright colors and completely inane dialogue (such as "The Emoji Movie").   Then there's kids films that cater to the entire family - and even adults without kids - that holds the attention of not just the little ones but the adults as well, that tell an important story and provides some great performances and character development.  While "Smallfoot" isn't a grandiose animated epic, it fortunately falls into the latter category, serving as a film that kids and adults can both enjoy, even if it only glosses over important themes.

"Smallfoot" serves as a film that expresses some very culturally relevant themes in a way that's enjoyable and allows you to think and question things that shady people wouldn't want questioned.  Here, it seems that the Yeti live in their own little world, who hold to a bunch of sacred stones that tell how they came into being, and don't question the authority.  For all intents and purposes, this works extremely well for everyone - everyone is happy, enjoying life, and relish in the most mundane jobs.  It's a utopia, but looks can be deceiving.  For below the clouds - where the Yeti think there's nothing but a dark abyss - there's a whole world out there waiting to be explored.

When Migo discovers a Smallfoot, this throws his whole worldview into question, and with the help of the Smallfoot Evidentiary Society, he decides to brave what's below the clouds and find the truth.  He discovers mankind, and learns the real secret why the Stonekeeper has lied to the Yeti world for so long, and he's troubled with wanting to tell the truth, or maintain the lie in order to protect his society.

It's an important moral dilemma that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this film.  We also see the struggle between the Yeti and mankind, as both are inherently fearful of the other, which of course leads to misunderstandings and unwarranted violence, but also in a strange way serves as a self-fulfilling prophecy.  When Migo encounters the humans, it's interesting to note that they don't understand each other right away, and unique how they interpret one another.  The Yeti see the humans as squealing, squeaking little things, while the humans hear guttural growls and snarls from the Yeti, serving to expand the chasm of mistrust between the two.  While the film could've focused more time on this, it is a kid's movie after all, so that's glossed over in favor of slapstick comedy reminiscent of the classic "Looney Tunes" cartoons - and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Channing Tatum has a unique charm that allows him to voice Migo in a way that's both endearing and thoughtful, like an innocent child just discovering the world for the first time.  Some people have compared his character to Chris Pratt's Emmet from "The LEGO Movie," and I feel that the comparisons are apt, but it's still funny.  Seeing the lengths he goes through to prove Smallfoot exists is hilarious, and where most of the "Looney Tunes" references come from (no surprise, the film is distributed by Warner Bros., which also owned the classic cartoon series).  The entire cast does great at their voice performances, and the songs are catchy and fun as well.  In every way, the film maintains a strong balance of humor and heart, allowing us to feel free to ask questions and not take everything we hear and see for face value.

The Summary:
The film offers a lot for both old and young, and supplies enough laughs and humor to keep you pleasantly entertained through it's short run-time.  While it doesn't add a lot to the history of cinema, it does allow us to forget our troubles and enjoy a fun-filled adventure with beautiful animations and a deeply thoughtful story.

The Score: A