Sherlock Gnomes (dir. John Stevenson)

There are ten credited screenwriters behind this belated sequel to the 2011 pun-tastic animated feature "Gnomeo and Juliet" -and not one of them is able to conjure a sizable enough gag within the inner workings of the script to justify such a hefty contingent.

Like the original - which saw quarreling land-owners at odds with each other as there anthropomorphic Gnomes began a “star crossed lovers” Romeo & Juliet infused love affair - there's more of the same mediocrity and uninspiring action on show, even if the filmmaking team focus more of the ensuing action on England's greatest detective by

Our director John Stevenson (Kung Fu Panda) follows suit with blending classic English literature - this time the classic works of Arthur Conan Doyle - into mildly arresting animation and the well-known eccentricities of Sherlock, to little effect.

For sure, Stevenson's animation is admittedly heavy on its self-awareness and reverence to its source material, yet it's lacking in it's sharpness and fails to reach the levels of charm which made similar outings such as "Paddington 2" warm the cockles of our hearts. Though a new source material exists, it's merely window dressing to the films main interest: infusing Elton John's back catalogue (like in the 2011 effort) as a backdrop to our talking gnomes hardships - and plenty of cringeworthy dancing. For it's 2018 effort, the sub-plot to the mischievous goings-on to our garden dwellers comes with the voicing talents of Mr. Johnny Depp. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star has dabbled with this sort of character before in "Mortdecai" - with disastrous results. Though his turn here is quoted as “London’s most decorated protector of garden gnomes” - no, really; he is less laborious than usual, no doubt down to the fact his tedium is limited to his English accent and an animated depiction instead of being uncharismatic on screen.

At his side is his perennial assistant Dr Watson (voiced by Chiwetel Ejiofor), who accompanies him dutifully- especially during a bravura opening sequence in a natural history museum- which pits our crime fighting duo against their arch nemesis Moriarty (a giant purveyor of pies; voiced by Fleabag star Jamie Demetriou). Thankfully they foil the incumbent attack and protect the gnome contingent in great peril - and Moriarty succumbs to the quick wits of England’s greatest detective.

Yet before long, trouble is afoot: just as our lovebirds Gnomeo (James Mcavoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) set-up camp in a new garden in a swanky London pad, their fellow gnomes go missing - a trend which has shocked several other gardens in the surrounding areas. Sherlock is on the case; and must team up all manor of assorted lawn trinkets - voice talents include Maggie Smith, Michael Caine and even Ozzy Osborne as a porcelain donkey - to save the day. Along the way, they come across every villainous feature under the sun: from dragon-gargoyles with cockney accents -to menacing rats; all of which are as instantly forgettable as they sound.

For the sake of fairness, having seen this animation just a few short weeks after the atrocious Peter Rabbit incarnation, it’s a welcoming and watchable interpretation. And hats off to it for at least making slight nods to the Sherlock Holmes canon. Yet for all it's glossy aesthetic, there’s a smug arrogance about its comedy, and one which isn’t supported with a snappy or even satirical edge. The voice performances also don’t inspire the universal glee like some other big names have done in the past (Hanks, Reily, Bell etc) - add to the mix yet another helping of Elton John's back catalogue, which is ham-fisted into the narrative at each juncture - seemingly to keep the adult audiences awake though failing to serve the plot in any remote fashion. Gags misfire at an alarming rate and by the time the third act arrives it completely looses its way - occupied entirely with double and triple crossovers too complicated for young audiences to follow and much to predicable for their accompanying babysitters to care about.

Although completely innocuous fair, the biggest laugh produced during my screening was off a close up of a bikini-wearing geriatric gnome’s rear end, and maybe that’s the problem: I just found that wholly inappropriate for a kids film and drastically unfunny. Though there’s fun to be had in the adventure, and it’s certainly a step in the right direction, if this animated series is hoping to continue. As our gang navigate the seedy underbelly of London’s underground criminal world- which sees them wander into a Chinese infused gift shop populated with some humorous inhabitants being the absolute-pinnacle in entertainment - it all wears you down by the end and is just too flimsy to be taken seriously.

Rating 2/5.