Yeti’s journey leaves tiny footprint

Smallfoot

(out of 4) Animated film starring the voices of Channing Tatum, Zendaya, James Corden, Common, Danny DeVito, and LeBron James. Directed by Karey Kirkpatrick. Opening Friday at GTA cinemas. 96 minutes. PG

There are times when it is OK to covet the innocent way children can look at something. The latest case is the animated adventure Smallfoot, where that naiveté is needed to make it a fun experience. Director Karey Kirkpatrick ( Over the

Hedge) offers a twist on the myths and legends about Bigfoot (or in this case, Yeti). In the Himalayas, a community of Yeti has been living a hidden existence from the world. There are only rumours of a creature known as the smallfoot.

A young Yeti, Migo (voiced by Channing Tatum), risks his life and goes against the rules in search of a smallfoot. This takes him to a small village where he meets Percy (James Corden), a wildlife adventurer. This smallfoot is proof their existence isn’t just legend. What Migo doesn’t realize is the truth may be more dangerous than legend.

Give Tatum credit for providing surprisingly good vocals for the Smallfoot opening tune, “Perfection,” and both Common and Zendaya deliver with their tunes. But the musical numbers end up being as uninspired as the design.

In the end, the script for Smallfoot` looks like a committee got together and tossed out ideas. Those thoughts were swept into a pile and used to tell the story even if none of the ideas connected or made sense.

Smallfoot falls into a middle category at every turn. The animation, writing and music are neither good nor bad, making it a project that envelops itself in mediocrity. Smallfoot will leave a tiny footprint on the film world.