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For years, people have chased after the elusive creature known by names like Bigfoot, Sasquatch, or Yeti. Recently, there was even an Animal Planet show about the quest for answers. But in the animated adventure Smallfoot, the tables are turned, and it’s the Yetis who set out to prove that we exist.
Smallfoot explores the adventures of Migo (voiced by Channing Tatum), a straight-laced, law-abiding young Yeti who always follows the sage advice of his village’s Stonekeeper (Common), who manages their laws and maintains their history. But when Migo reveals that he’s encountered a mythical creature known as smallfoot, he’s banished from the village for telling lies. In an attempt to be allowed back into the village—and with the help of a secret group known as the Smallfoot Evidentiary Society—he sets out in search of the smallfoot to prove that the creature really does exist.
With its big, fluffy characters with nonsensical names, living in their far-away village of ice, Smallfoot looks like something from the mind of Dr. Seuss. There are plenty of laughs, too, as Migo finds himself traveling with struggling television host Percy Patterson (James Corden), who will do absolutely anything to return to stardom. And the two struggle to communicate in some amusing ways.
The story, however, tries too hard to squeeze in a whole bunch of valuable lessons. It’s about miscommunication—and trying to understand someone else’s point of view. It’s about questioning the status quo and standing up for what you believe. And it’s about the corruption of authority figures—and how our leaders can use lies and fear to manipulate the people. That’s just a whole lot of messages squeezed into a movie for kids. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using stories about mythical creatures to teach kids life lessons—after all, it’s been done for centuries—it’s probably best to stick with one message that comes across well instead of a whole bunch of messages that just seem to get lost in each other.
Sadly, it seems as though the filmmakers were so intent on teaching all of these lessons that the film feels muddled, and it’s entirely forgettable. It certainly had potential, but from the story to the characters and even the music, nothing here is especially memorable.
With its big-name voice cast and its cute premise, Smallfoot could have been a new kids’ favorite. Instead, it’s little more than a way to distract your kids for a couple of hours.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
