# Sherlock Gnomes

Sherlock Gnomes is a 2018 animated mystery comedy film directed by John Stevenson. Based on the character Sherlock Holmes created by Arthur Conan Doyle, it is a sequel to Gnomeo & Juliet (2011). The main cast reprise their roles from the first film including James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Ashley Jensen, Matt Lucas, Stephen Merchant, Ozzy Osbourne, among others, alongside new voice cast members, including Johnny Depp, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mary J. Blige, and Jamie Demetriou, among others. The animation was done by Mikros Image and Reel FX Creative Studios.
The film was released in the United States and the United Kingdom on March 23, 2018, and May 11, 2018, respectively, by Paramount Pictures (through Paramount Animation), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, and Rocket Pictures, which replaced Gnomeo & Juliet's distributor, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (through Touchstone Pictures). It was notable for being Paramount's first animated film to be entirely animated since Rango, Paramount Animation's first film to be entirely animated, and MGM's first animated film since Igor. It received generally almost universally negative reviews from critics and was a box office failure, grossing $90.5 million worldwide against a $59 million budget.

## Plot

At London's Natural History Museum, Sherlock Gnomes and his assistant, Dr. Watson, confront their nemesis, the pie mascot Moriarty, who is holding gnomes hostage and is seemingly killed after being crushed by a dinosaur skeleton.
Miss Montague, Mr. Capulet, and the gnomes move from Stratford-upon-Avon to a run-down garden in London. Lady Bluebury and Lord Redbrick announce their retirement and appoint Gnomeo and Juliet to lead the gnomes, but Gnomeo and Juliet's relationship becomes strained when Juliet ignores Gnomeo in her efforts to repair the garden. To get her attention, Gnomeo goes to a nearby flower shop that Benny told him about to get a Cupid's Arrow orchid, but a stall falls over and the burglar alarm goes off. Juliet rescues him, but they argue before returning to the garden after Benny sends them a signal on a walkie-talkie informing them that a monster has attacked. There, they find that everyone has disappeared, and Sherlock and Watson, who find a clue card, reluctantly let them accompany them in their search for clues to find out what is going on.
A clue from Moriarty, who Sherlock believes survived, leads them to Chinatown, where they find the next clue at Curly Fu's Emporium while escaping from cat guards whom Sherlock had offended. They arrive at the Natural History Museum, which Gnomeo attempts to convince Sherlock to investigate. However, Sherlock decides to visit an art gallery instead, as it helps him think, and Gnomeo is hurt after Juliet sides with Sherlock. After an argument, Gnomeo leaves for the museum with Watson, where he realizes that he was wrong to leave Juliet. However, before he can return to her, a stone gargoyle kidnaps him and takes him to the gnomes, who learn that they will be smashed during a fireworks celebration the following evening. Sherlock finds the next clue at the royal park, which he and Juliet obtain from a dog by disguising themselves as a squirrel while evading it on a lawnmower.
Gnomeo attempts to free the gnomes, but only he and the Red Goon Gnomes escape before the gargoyles arrive. The next clue leads Juliet and Sherlock to a doll museum, where they meet his resentful fiancée, Irene, who kicks them out but lets Juliet in after she distances herself from Sherlock. Irene gives Juliet the clue, which leads her and Sherlock to Traitor's Gate at the Tower of London. There, they discover Watson, who reveals that he pretended to be Moriarty to get through to Sherlock, who showed no respect or appreciation for him, and is supposedly holding the gnomes captive, but finds that they are missing. The Gargoyles reveal that they never worked for Watson and dispose of him, Juliet, and Sherlock on a ship.
Sherlock realizes that the gnomes are being held at the bottom of the Tower Bridge with pie filling and Moriarty reveals that he manipulated Watson into helping him and plans to smash the gnomes with the raised bridge. After witnessing Sherlock's mistreatment of Watson, he had the Gargoyles feign allegiance with Watson to access his map and locate the gnomes in London. Sherlock and Watson agree to work together to save the gnomes and they and Juliet head to the bridge on a drone.
Gnomeo delays the opening of the bridge by having the Red Goon Gnomes dance before reuniting with Juliet and helping her defeat the Gargoyles. Although Watson frees the trapped gnomes with soap, Moriarty pursues Sherlock and injures his leg, and uses his hat to send Juliet, Gnomeo and Watson's drone falling down. Before he can kill the gnomes, however, Sherlock throws himself at Moriarty, knocking them over the bridge. Watson saves Sherlock with his cane grappling hook, while Moriarty lands in the water and floats away. The gnomes then enjoy the fireworks.
The following spring, Gnomeo and Juliet reveal the completed garden and the gnomes celebrate with Irene and the cat guards in attendance. Sherlock and Watson, having reconciled, set off on another adventure.

## 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 the film was in development at Rocket Pictures. Emily Cook, Kathy Greenberg, Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil, four of the nine writers on the first film, were to write the script for the film. Steve Hamilton Shaw and David Furnish produced the film, and Elton John, an executive producer, again composed new songs for the film. The film would feature Sherlock Gnomes, "the greatest ornamental detective" hired by the characters from the first film, who would try to solve the mystery of disappearing gnomes.
In September 2012, it was reported that John Stevenson, one of the directors of Kung Fu Panda, had been set to direct the film. Kelly Asbury, the director of the first film, was unable to direct the sequel due to being busy on Smurfs: The Lost Village for Sony Pictures Animation. However, he was involved in the sequel as the creative consultant and he reprised his role as the Red Goon Gnomes.

### Casting

In November 2015, it was announced that Johnny Depp would voice Sherlock Gnomes and that the film would be released on January 12, 2018. James McAvoy and Emily Blunt reprised their roles as Gnomeo and Juliet, respectively.

### Animation

Unlike the first film, which was animated by Arc Productions (now Jam Filled Toronto), Sherlock Gnomes was animated by Mikros Image in London and Paris with additional animation provided by Reel FX Creative Studios in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Montreal. Like the first film, the film’s animation was created using Autodesk Maya. The character models from the previous film were reused, Sixty percent of the animation crew were in London, and the rest were in Paris. During peak production, there were between 80 and 100 animators working on the project. Animation director Eric Leighton took inspiration from George Pal’s Puppetoons for the animation of the gnomes in the film. The animation of the human characters were done via motion capture, and the end credits animation was produced by Studio AKA in London.

### Music

Chris Bacon was confirmed to return to score the sequel like in the first film while James Newton Howard did not return to co-compose the score since he was too busy working on the music for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. However, Howard did return only to be involved as a music consultant. The soundtrack album was released by Virgin EMI Records.

## Release

The film was originally scheduled to be released in the United States on January 12, 2018. In May 2017, the film was pushed back two months to March 23, 2018. In the United Kingdom, it was released on May 11, 2018.

### Marketing

On November 3, 2017, seven teaser posters were released. The same day, the title was shortened from Gnomeo & Juliet 2: Sherlock Gnomes to Sherlock Gnomes. On November 7, the first trailer was revealed.
The film had also released posters parodying previous films from 2017, 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. The posters had different names.

### Home media

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

## Reception
### Box office

Sherlock Gnomes has 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 the United States and Canada, Sherlock Gnomes was released alongside Pacific Rim Uprising, Midnight Sun, Unsane and Paul, Apostle of Christ, and was projected to gross $13–18 million from 3,600 theaters in its opening weekend. It ended up debuting to $10.6 million, underperforming but still finishing 4th at the box office.

### Critical response

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

### Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Recipients | Result |
| 2018 | Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Original Song – Animated Film | "Stronger Than I Ever Was" – Elton John and Bernie Taupin | Won |
| 2019 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Actor | Johnny Depp | Nominated |
| 2019 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Screen Combo | Johnny Depp | Nominated |
| 2019 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Screen Combo | His fast-fading film career | Nominated |