Sherlock Gnomes

Sherlock Gnomes
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John Stevenson
Screenplay by	Ben Zazove
Story by	Andy Riley Kevin Cecil Emily Cook Kathy Greenberg
Based on	Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle Characters by Rob Sprackling John Smith Andy Riley Kevin Cecil Kelly Asbury Steve Hamilton Shaw
Produced by	Steve Hamilton Shaw David Furnish Carolyn Soper
Starring	James McAvoy Emily Blunt Chiwetel Ejiofor Maggie Smith Michael Caine Ashley Jensen Matt Lucas Stephen Merchant Ozzy Osbourne Mary J. Blige Jamie Demetriou Johnny Depp
Edited by	Prakash Patel Mark Solomon
Music by	Chris Bacon
Production companies	Paramount Animation Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Rocket Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	March 23, 2018 (2018-03-23) (United States) May 11, 2018 (2018-05-11) (United Kingdom)
Running time	86 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	$59 million
Box office	$90.5 million

Sherlock Gnomes is a 2018 animated mystery comedy film directed by John Stevenson. A sequel to Gnomeo & Juliet (2011), it is based on the iconic detective character created by Arthur Conan Doyle. The film features returning voice cast members James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Ashley Jensen, Matt Lucas, Stephen Merchant, and Ozzy Osbourne, alongside new additions Johnny Depp, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mary J. Blige, and Jamie Demetriou. Animation was handled by Mikros Animation and Reel FX Creative Studios.

The film was released in the United States on March 23, 2018, and in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2018, by Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, and Rocket Pictures, replacing Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures as the distributor. It marked Paramount's first fully animated feature since Rango (2011) and MGM's first animated film since Igor (2008). The film received largely negative reviews and underperformed commercially, grossing $90.5 million worldwide against a production budget of $59 million.

Plot

At London’s Natural History Museum, detective Sherlock Gnomes and his assistant, Dr. Watson, foil their longtime nemesis Moriarty, a pie mascot, who appears to be killed when crushed by a dinosaur skeleton. Meanwhile, the garden gnome families, including Miss Montague and Mr. Capulet, relocate from Stratford-upon-Avon to a neglected garden in London. Lady Bluebury and Lord Redbrick appoint Gnomeo and Juliet as new leaders, but the couple's relationship becomes strained as Juliet focuses on revitalizing the garden.

When all the gnomes mysteriously vanish, Gnomeo and Juliet join Sherlock and Watson to investigate. Believing Moriarty may have survived, Sherlock follows clues that lead them through Chinatown, the Natural History Museum, and a royal park. The journey strains the group's dynamic, particularly between Gnomeo and Juliet, and between Sherlock and Watson. Juliet and Sherlock later visit a doll museum to consult Sherlock’s former fiancée Irene, who provides a crucial clue.

The investigation reveals that Watson posed as Moriarty to earn Sherlock’s appreciation but was ultimately manipulated by the real Moriarty, who plans to destroy the gnomes by raising the Tower Bridge during a fireworks display. Sherlock, Juliet, and Watson race to the bridge, where they reunite with Gnomeo and thwart the plan. Sherlock sacrifices himself to stop Moriarty, who falls into the river, while Watson rescues Sherlock.

In the aftermath, the gnomes celebrate their restored garden the following spring, and Sherlock and Watson set off on their next case, having reconciled.

Cast

• James McAvoy as Gnomeo, a blue gnome who is Lady Bluebury's son, Juliet's husband, and Benny's best friend. He is the counterpart to Romeo Montague.
• Emily Blunt as Juliet, a red gnome who is Lord Redbrick's daughter, Gnomeo's wife, and Nanette's best friend. She is the counterpart to Juliet Capulet.
• Johnny Depp as Sherlock Gnomes, a gnome who is Dr. Gnome Watson's friend, Irene's ex-fiancé, and Moriarty's nemesis. He is the counterpart to Sherlock Holmes.
• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Dr. Gnome Watson, a gnome who is Sherlock Gnomes' friend and assistant. He is the counterpart to Dr. John Watson.
• Jamie Demetriou as Moriarty, a pie mascot and Sherlock Gnomes' nemesis. He is the counterpart to Professor James Moriarty.
• Mary J. Blige as Irene, a plastic doll who is Sherlock Gnomes' ex-fiancé. She is the counterpart to Irene Adler.
• Michael Caine as Lord Redbrick, the leader of the red garden gnomes and Juliet's former widowed father, who is overprotective of her. He is the counterpart to Lord Capulet.
• Maggie Smith as Lady Bluebury, the leader of the blue garden gnomes and Gnomeo's widowed mother. She is the counterpart to Lady Montague.
• Ashley Jensen as Nanette, a plastic garden frog who is Juliet's best friend, Paris' former girlfriend, and Benny's current girlfriend. She is the counterpart to Nurse.
• Matt Lucas as Benny, an impulsive gnome who is Gnomeo's best friend, Call Me Doll's former boyfriend, and Nanette's current boyfriend. He is the counterpart to Mercutio and Benvolio.
• Stephen Merchant as Paris, a nerdy red gnome who was arranged to marry Juliet. He is the counterpart to Count Paris.
• Ozzy Osbourne as Fawn, a garden deer and counterpart to Peter.
• Julie Walters as Mrs. Montague, the elderly owner of the garden.
• Richard Wilson as Mr. Capulet, the elderly owner of the garden.
• Julio Bonet as Mankini Gnome, a red gnome who wears a mankini.
• Gary Bradbury as Barry, a gnome who sits on a toilet.
• Kelly Asbury as Red Goon Gnomes. They are counterparts to Gregory, Sampson, Anthony, and Potpan.
• Dan Starkey as Teddy Gregson, the counterpart to Tobias Gregson.
• Dexter Fletcher as Reggie, a gargoyle.
• Javone Prince as Ronnie, a gargoyle.
• James Hong as Salt Shaker
• John Stevenson as Big Boy Gorilla
• Stephen Wight as Bridge Operator
• Eve Webster as Mrs. Udderson, Sherlock Gnomes' cow

Production

Development

In March 2012, it was reported that a sequel to Gnomeo & Juliet was in development at Rocket Pictures. Emily Cook, Kathy Greenberg, Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil—four of the nine writers of the original film—were attached to write the screenplay. Steve Hamilton Shaw and David Furnish returned as producers, with Elton John serving again as executive producer and contributing new songs. The sequel would introduce Sherlock Gnomes, described as "the greatest ornamental detective," hired to investigate the mysterious disappearance of gnomes.

In September 2012, John Stevenson, co-director of Kung Fu Panda (2008), was announced as the director. Kelly Asbury, who directed the original film, was unavailable due to his commitments on Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017) for Sony Pictures Animation. However, he remained involved as a creative consultant and voiced the Red Goon Gnomes.

Casting

In November 2015, Johnny Depp was announced as the voice of Sherlock Gnomes, with the film scheduled for release on January 12, 2018. James McAvoy and Emily Blunt reprised their roles as Gnomeo and Juliet, respectively.

Animation

Unlike its predecessor, which was animated by Arc Productions, Sherlock Gnomes was animated by Mikros Animation in London and Paris, with additional work by Reel FX Animation in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Montreal. The animation was produced using Autodesk Maya, and character models from the first film were reused. Approximately 60% of the animation crew was based in London, with the remainder in Paris. At peak production, the film employed between 80 and 100 animators. Animation director Eric Leighton cited George Pal’s Puppetoons as an influence on the gnome animation style. Human characters were animated using motion capture, while the end credits sequence was created by Studio AKA in London.

Music

Chris Bacon returned to compose the score, as he had on the first film. James Newton Howard, who co-composed the original score, did not return due to his work on Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), though he contributed as a music consultant. The film’s soundtrack was released by Virgin EMI Records.

Release

Sherlock Gnomes was initially scheduled for release in the United States on January 12, 2018, but in May 2017, it was delayed to March 23, 2018. In the United Kingdom, the film was released on May 11, 2018.

Marketing

On November 3, 2017, seven teaser posters were unveiled, coinciding with the official shortening of the film’s title from Gnomeo & Juliet 2: Sherlock Gnomes to Sherlock Gnomes. The first trailer was released on November 7, 2017. To promote the film, several parody posters were also released spoofing notable 2017 films such as Darkest Hour, The Disaster Artist, The Greatest Showman, The Post, I, Tonya, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, All the Money in the World, Wonder Woman, and The Shape of Water, each reimagined with gnome-themed titles and characters.

Home media

Sherlock Gnomes was released on Digital HD on June 5, 2018, followed by Blu-ray and DVD on June 12, 2018.

Reception

Box office

Sherlock Gnomes grossed $43.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $47.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $90.4 million, against a production budget of $59 million.

In North America, the film was released alongside Pacific Rim Uprising, Midnight Sun, Unsane, and Paul, Apostle of Christ. It was projected to earn $13–18 million from 3,600 theaters during its opening weekend, but debuted with a lower-than-expected $10.6 million, finishing fourth at the box office.

Critical response

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Sherlock Gnomes holds an approval rating of 27% based on 67 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads: “Sherlock Gnomes is sadly, utterly stumped by the mystery of the reason for its own existence.” On Metacritic, the film has a weighted score of 36 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews." Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave it an average grade of “B+” on an A+ to F scale.

Critics largely panned the film for its unoriginal humor and underwhelming plot. Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gave the film one and a half stars, calling it “a dull and pointless sequel” and noting that “only the youngest viewers might be distracted enough not to notice how lifeless it is.” IGN's David Griffin rated the film 4.5/10, writing, “Sherlock Gnomes tries to mix action and slapstick with detective mystery but ends up solving little except how to lose an audience's attention.”

Variety’s Peter Debruge found the film lacking in energy and coherence, stating, “Even kids might find this lazy sequel's jokes and logic tiresome.” Benjamin Lee of The Guardian awarded the film one star out of five, describing it as “a joyless and charmless exercise that lacks the wit or warmth to engage either children or adults.”

Deadline Hollywood criticized the film's "uninspired voice performances" and over-reliance on Elton John’s music catalog, which it described as "needlessly shoehorned into scenes." Common Sense Media reviewers noted that while the film features familiar characters and bright visuals, the story falls flat, and the messaging around teamwork is undermined by weak character development.

BBC Radio 1’s Ali Plumb described Sherlock Gnomes as “visually competent but narratively cluttered,” adding that “while some gags may earn a chuckle, the film largely plays it too safe to leave any real impression.”

Accolades

Award	Date of the ceremony	Category	Recipients	Result	Ref.
Hollywood Music in Media Awards	14 November 2018	Best Original Song in an Animated Film	"Stronger Than I Ever Was" – Elton John and Bernie Taupin	Won
London Film Critics' Circle	20 January 2019	British Actress of the Year	Emily Blunt (also for A Quiet Place and Mary Poppins Returns)	Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards	23 February 2019	Worst Actor	Johnny Depp	Nominated
		Worst Screen Combo	Johnny Depp & his fast-fading film career	Nominated

See also

• Gnome Alone, another garden gnome film that was released in 2017

External links

• Official website
• Sherlock Gnomes at Box Office Mojo
• Sherlock Gnomes at IMDb
• Sherlock Gnomes at Rotten Tomatoes