With Jim Sabatini

Smallfoot

Rated: PG for some action, rude humor, and thematic elements.
Reviewed by: Frank
Release date: September 28, 2018	Released by: Warner Brothers

With a significant number of musical numbers filled with dancing and singing, Smallfoot appears to be an opportunity for Warner Brothers to enter the market that launched the very successful Frozen.  Warner studios has produced about a dozen animated features beginning with Gay Purr-ee back in 1962.  The most successful was The Polar Express which was filmed in 3D like SmallFoot.

The twist here is the notion that Yeti's exist at the top of a significant frozen mountain and believe there is no such animal as Smallfoot, which are humans from our point of view.  The idea comes from rocks that are held by and elder and provide the basis for their society and it's beliefs.  The stones remind us of the Ten Commandments and in the Yeti civilization they have a similar influence.  To challenge the rocks is not acceptable, so when Migo (Channing Tatum) observes a plane crash high on his mountain, and comes across a red headed creature that is much smaller than a Yeti and has very small feet no yeti is willing to believe him. It's opposite to the Big Foot legend, and Milo is ousted for daring to challenge the message rocks his society believes in. 

Director Kirkpatrick gives us an exciting background for the story from the crashing of the plane to the gong which Milo and his father ring each day by being fired from a stretched chord and hitting the golden gong with a rock that is placed on their heads.  

As in many animated features there are philosophies at work here.  One is, that what we hate is very often what we fear and don't understand, or are not willing to accept due to traditions which has been hammered into our minds.  Much of the story line here deals with the problem of how can humans the smallfooters, and the Yetis, the big foots accept that each other exists and are not so bad.  The other point that is made is that to succeed in modern media, a hook that is spectacular must be used.  Here if a reporter can find a Big Foot he has a platform to promote has TV presence.  

Smallfoot,  is pleasant but not spectacular story aimed at a young audience.