Sherlock Gnomes parents guide

Sherlock Gnomes Parent Guide

It's got decent story, good music and some of the best voice talent available, but the animation just doesn't bring the stone characters to life.

Overall B

Gnomeo and Juliet (voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt), call in the famous detective Sherlock Gnomes (voice of Johnny Depp) when some of their garden pals go missing.

Release date March 23, 2018

Violence B-
Sexual Content B
Profanity A-
Substance Use A

Why is Sherlock Gnomes rated PG? The MPAA rated Sherlock Gnomes PG for some rude and suggestive humor.

Run Time: 87 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

The talking garden gnomes return with a good dose of “cheeky” humor—literally, in the case of one gnome (voice of Julio Bonet) who parades around in a “mankini”, exposing his sunburnt posterior. After Gnomeo & Juliet, this second attempt at turning lawn ornaments into captivating entertainment offers a new tale that drops the romantic couple (voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt) into the center of an ongoing mystery being solved by… you guessed it… Sherlock Gnomes (voice of Johnny Depp). The famous literary detective will also face his usual nemesis Moriarty (voice of Jamie Demetriou).

The gnomes’ human family has relocated to London and within hours of being unpacked and strategically placed about the shabby garden, virtually every one of them disappears. The only exceptions are Gnomeo and Juliet who, fortunately, were out having a spat down the street. They get back to the empty yard just in time to meet Sherlock and his assistant Dr. Watson (voice of Chiwetel Ejiofor) and be informed there’s a rash of gnome disappearances across the city.

Having recently been made leaders of the gnome colony, the ceramic couple feel an intense need to assist with the investigation. However, differences of opinion (similar to their earlier disagreement) leave each of them with their own idea of how the case should be solved. Add Sherlock’s self-absorbed nature and Watson’s timid suggestions and you have a quartet of eager helpers who differ more than they agree. And that makes for a script that circles about in countless directions.

Thankfully there are some upsides – the first being at least there is a story in this sequel – something that was lacking in the original. In fact, there are some fun nods to Arthur Conan Doyle’s many Sherlock adventures and even a twist or two to keep the Baker Street theme afoot. The plot also leaves less time for inappropriate humor (aside from a bit too much Mankini). As well, with Elton John as executive producer, there’s a selection of his “greatest hits” playing throughout the film.

So we’ve got a decent story, good music and some of the best voice talent available, yet like so many other animations vying for family box office dollars, the screen is full of characters telling us how they feel about each other rather than demonstrating it. Evoking little audience engagement, the next big mystery Sherlock Gnomes needs to solve is how to give these stone characters a little more heart.

Directed by John Stevenson. Starring James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp. Running time: 87 minutes. Theatrical release March 23, 2018. Updated

Sherlock Gnomes
Rating & Content Info

Why is Sherlock Gnomes rated PG? Sherlock Gnomes is rated PG by the MPAA for some rude and suggestive humor.

Violence: A gnome falls and we hear a crash, implying it has died. Many scenes depict slapstick antics, characters in peril and occasional death threats. A collection of characters disappear, implying they have been kidnapped. We later see them and discover they are going to be destroyed by a diabolical bad guy. A hero character breaks into a shop and steals an item without consequences. Some chase scenes and scary characters may be too intense for young children.

Sexual Content: A male gnome character is often seen wearing a “mankini” – a one-piece swimsuit that partially covers his chest and has a thong strap over his crotch and between his buttocks. Some female characters are scantily dressed. The script includes potty humor and a gnome who sits on a toilet with his pants around his ankles.

Profanity: Some name calling and non-swear-word expletives are heard.

Alcohol / Drug Use: None noted.

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Sherlock Gnomes Parents' Guide

Gnomeo and Juliet struggle to agree on priorities and how to solve problems. How is the situation similar between Sherlock and Watson? Do you have friends or family members you often disagree with? What methods have you used to reach a compromise? How might pride affect your ability to see another person’s perspective?

Did you know garden gnomes were first produced in Germany in the 1840s, and quickly spread throughout Europe. Since the 1970s, sales have declined, providing sorrow to some, but great joy to others… like this UK writer!

News About "Sherlock Gnomes"

Learn more about the famous literary detective, Sherlock Holmes.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Sherlock Gnomes movie is June 12, 2018. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes:  Sherlock Gnomes
Release Date: 12 June 2018
Sherlock Gnomes releases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) with the following extras:
- Gnome is Where the Heart Is – Go behind-the-scenes with the all-star cast
- All Roads Lead to Gnome: London Locations in Sherlock Gnomes
- Miss Gnomer: Mary J. Blige and the Music of Sherlock Gnomes
- Stronger Than I Ever Was – Enjoy the brand new music video performed by Mary J. Blige
- How To Draw – Learn how to draw your favorite characters
- Animating Sherlock Gnomes – Discover the magic behind the movie’s animation

Related home video titles:

This movie is a sequel to Gnomeo & Juliet. The famous fictitious detective is depicted by Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes.