SMALLFOOT Review

Family movies are always a hit my crew, so when we were invited to an advance screening of SMALLFOOT with the LeBron James Family Foundation a couple weeks ago, we jumped at the chance. Nowadays, creating a family film can be complicated. With technology always available and at their fingertips, it takes a good story with a lot of wit and whimsy to keep not just a child’s attention, but to encourage a parent to want to come along too. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it … in fact, we all loved it!

SMALLFOOT has it all!  Along with a great message that encourages thinking for yourself, it also adds just the right amount of humor.  While the musical numbers probably aren’t blockbusters, we all found ourselves humming along on the choruses. My favorite was the choppy and upbeat song “Finally Free,” by former One Direction member. So what can you expect from this fun film? Read on.

Migo (Channing Tatum) is a Yeti, living in a large community high in the Himalayan mountains. He is next in line to become the gong-ringer, once his dad (Danny DeVito) retires. The gong-ringer has one job, to hit the gong (by flinging himself across a mountain and hitting the bullseye with his head) that wakes the sun and gets the village going for the day. Or so he thinks that is the way it works since the sacred stones say so. You see, the Yeti village, has long lived their lives according to what The Stonekeeper proclaims their sacred stones have inscribed. And one HUGE rule in the community is you do not question the stones. Ever. Migo is fine not to question this way of life until one day, he meets a mythical hairless creature known as the “Smallfoot”, which really is a human by the name of Percy (James Corden).

Migo and his friends, Meechee (Zendaya), Gwangi (LeBron James) and Kolka (Gina Rodriguez) and Fleem (Ely Henry), set out to show the village that smallfoot does exist, and therefore turns the village upside down because everything they believed, might not be true. With many questions raised, and the villagers asking too many questions that The Stonekeeper has deemed them not ready to know the real answers to, Migo’s entire future is thrown into question while his Smallfoot friend has some issues of his own to solve.

The animation in this movie is gorgeous. The Yeti characters are fully developed and are diverse in color, shape and even hair designs. Best of all, the picturesque snowy mountain landscapes are gorgeous and the beautiful village is so full of detail, you’ll want to add it to your list of upcoming vacations. It has an easy plot line that even the youngest can follow but quite a few laughs that adults will enjoy too.

I really think your family is going to enjoy this movie as much as mine!

Smallfoot opens September 28th

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My parents have been foster parents since I was a little girl, so a movie about fostering is near and dear to my heart. I’m super pumped that there is an upcoming movie inspired by the real story of Sean and Beth Anders who adopted three siblings from foster care.

Tonight, you are invited to attend an advance screening of INSTANT FAMILY at AMC Westwood Rocky River, at 7:00pm. Please keep in mind that you need to arrive about 45 minutes early.  Everyone attending will need a pass. Once you register,  you will be emailed a bar code. To enter the theater, you can print it out or show it on your phone.

INSTANT FAMILY advance screening
Wednesday, September 26 – 7:00 PM – AMC Westwood
GET PASSES HERE!

 

SYNOPSIS:
When Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15 year old girl (Isabela Moner), they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight. Now, Pete and Ellie must hilariously try to learn the ropes of instant parenthood in the hopes of becoming a family. INSTANT FAMILY is inspired by the real events from the life of writer/director Sean Anders and also stars Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro and Margo Martindale.
DIRECTED BY: Sean Anders
WRITTEN BY: Sean Anders and John Morris
STARRING: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer, Isabela Moner, Tig Notaro and Margo Martindale