by Charles Kirkland Jr.
Yetis do exist and they’re adorable in the mythological twist animated feature Smallfoot.
The story of Smallfoot follows a group of Yeti who come across a human, with each species thinking the other was just a myth. Co-written and directed by Karey Kirkpatrick, with co-direction by Jason Reisig, the story is based on the book Yeti Tracks by Sergio Pablos and features the voicework of Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, LeBron James, Gina Rodriguez, Danny DeVito, Yara Shahidi, Ely Henry, and Jimmy Tatro.
Smallfoot is a clever and entertaining animated feature that focuses upon Channing Tatum’s character Migo a Yeti, the snowbound version of Bigfoot, who one day discovers a human, the mythical creature known to the Yeti as a smallfoot after a plane crashes on the mountain where he lives. When Migo gets other Yeti to see the creature, the plane and its pilot have disappeared (falling down the mountain). Fueled by desire for the truth and banished from his community by Stonekeeper (Common), Migo joins the S.E.S. (Smallfoot Evidentiary Society) to prove their existence.
On an excursion down the mountain, Migo hilariously encounters Percy (James Corden), the host of a Wild Kingdom-like TV show, who ironically had just decided to fake the discovery of a Yeti. It is their relationship that fuels the rest of the movie.
Zendaya plays Migo’s love interest Meechee, the brains of the SES while Lebron James is incredibly funny as the conspiracy loving SES member Gwangi.
Ultimately, Smallfoot is a cute and funny animated twist on Evolution theory with some really interesting songs including an impressive send-up of Queen’s Under Pressure called Percy’s Pressure. The songs were co-written by director Karey Kirkpatrick and her brother Wayne who also wrote the music for acclaimed Broadway musical Something Rotten. For the kids, a song by One Direction’s Niall Horan and for the adults, the often used Journey rock anthem Don’t Stop Believin’ make an appearance. However, it’s too little too late for the adults in the audience. This movie is really just for the kids. Smallfoot is a good, although late in the season, family comedy that parents may like and children may love. Look for Halloween costumes and Christmas stuffed toys from this one.
Rated PG for some action, rude humor, and mature thematic elements, Smallfoot should leave a big imprint in the box office this week.
Grade: C