by Tim Gordon
In a world overflowing with slick animated features and high-concept family comedies, a film about talking sneakers should feel like a fun, original step forward. With an Oscar-nominated writer at the helm and an all-star voice cast lacing up, Sneaks had every reason to shine as a fresh, witty spin on sports, sneaker culture, and the timeless underdog story.
But while the film shows flashes of charm, it never finds the spark it needs to truly take off, stumbling over familiar story beats and underusing the talent that should’ve made it soar.
Directed by Rob Edwards, the Oscar-nominated writer behind Treasure Planet and The Princess and the Frog, Sneaks marks his first leap into the director’s chair, co-directing alongside Chris Jenkins. But instead of sprinting away with a fresh, playful idea, Sneaks feels stuck at the starting line: a story that’s more scuffed-up than smooth, full of promise that never quite finds its stride.
The film centers on Edson, a high school baller who wins an exclusive pair of sneakers: Ty, who wants nothing more than to stay spotless in his box, and Maxine, who’s itching to hit the court and prove herself. When a shady sneakerhead known as the Collector breaks in and steals the prized kicks for his crooked boss, the Forger — an underground counterfeiter with a sinister plan the film kicks into a city-wide chase.
Ty, separated from Maxine, finds an unlikely ally in JB, an old beat-up sneaker with a complicated past. Their odd-couple dynamic, pristine hypebeast vs. washed-up relic, should carry the film’s emotional core, but it’s barely laced together. The script tries to touch on loyalty, second chances, and what it means to be “used up” in a world obsessed with the new and shiny, but it never digs deep enough to make those ideas stick.
There are glimpses of charm: a quirky wedding party with Adriana the high heel, a neighborhood basketball showdown, a few decent shoe puns, but they come and go without the wit or warmth this story needs. The world of anthropomorphic sneakers should feel fresh and zany, yet so much of Sneaks feels like it’s borrowing from better movies without putting its stamp on it.
The real shame is the wasted voice talent. Anthony Mackie brings a crisp, uptight edge to Ty, and Martin Lawrence does what he can with JB’s rough-around-the-edges heart. But when you’ve got Macy Gray, Ella Mai, Quavo, Keith David, and Laurence Fishburne in the mix and they barely register, you know there’s untapped potential left on the court.
By the time Ty and JB race through the park for a showdown with the Collector, you can’t help but wish the film had a little more bounce in its step. There’s a spark here, a smart twist on sneaker culture and sports movies — but it’s buried under a flat script and recycled gags that never take full advantage of the concept.
Sneaks wants to be the Toy Story for sneakerheads, a heartfelt, playful adventure that reminds you every old pair still has a soul. But despite a flashy concept and a stacked voice cast, this film mostly stumbles. It’s a half-hearted dribble when it could’ve been a fast break.
Grade: C-
