Sherlock Gnome Movie Review

Gnomes and garden ornaments come to life and take over their owners’ bucolic backyards in this animated comedy. But, as any garden-variety couple knows, long-term relationships aren’t always roses, even when you live in a picturesque garden full of gnomes. This sequel to the 2011 rocket-powered hit Gnomeo & Juliet relocates the lovebirds and their fellow yard trinkets from Stratford to London, where they’re soon enmeshed in a mystery that draws the attention of Baker Street’s finest (voiced by Johnny Depp of Mortdecai). Also starring Mary J. Blige and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sherlock Gnomes and his sidekick Watson delve into the case of missing garden-dwellers.

Despite their best efforts to remain the perfect garden couple, Gnomeo and Juliet find themselves in constant conflict over their work versus home lives, leading to an impasse that’s not easily resolved. And when their neighbors’ gnomes begin disappearing from backyards across London, it becomes clear they’re not alone in this plight. So, when a shady gnome known as the Cat Burglar begins stealing the trinkets to sell for a fortune in black market pie (and thus threaten the entire gnome population), it’s up to Sherlock and his trusty sidekick to save the day.

Like its predecessor, this film delivers a solid dose of cheeky humor. The animators do an excellent job of keeping the action moving, and they never let the story bog down. The movie’s use of humor is surprisingly mature, too, with some name calling and non-swear-word expletives. The script also incorporates some potty humor, such as a male gnome who parades around in a mankini and exposes his sunburned rear end.

The film does, however, have its shortcomings. The most significant problem is that it fails to build upon the first movie’s premise of an epic war between grizzled gnomes and the wacky Troggs. While the characters do a good job of developing into a rag-tag band, there’s no real sense that this is an existential struggle for humanity or that gnome supremacy is at stake. The only real sense of danger comes from a shady character played by the indefatigable Michael Culkin, who’s always just one step ahead of everyone else.

Overall, Sherlock Gnomes is a well-made film that’s sure to entertain the whole family. It’s a bit more sophisticated than Gnomeo & Juliet, but it still manages to remain family friendly. And, while it’s not a groundbreaking piece of animation, it’s still fun and worth the price of admission.