Sherlock Gnomes Christian Movie Review (2018)

Guidance: Low Concern

This animated mystery-comedy stays in family-film territory, but it includes repeated peril, kidnapping threats, fight scenes, and a light layer of romantic teasing. Its main concerns are action intensity and the film’s playful tone around danger, which may be worth talking through with younger children.

Why This Guidance Level

Sherlock Gnomes is a light animated adventure, but the story repeatedly centers on gnomes being kidnapped, threatened with smashing, and chased through comic action scenes. The content is not especially heavy by family-film standards, yet the danger is frequent enough that many parents may want a conversation afterward about courage, protection, and how humor can soften real harm.

Faith & Worldview Perspective

The film leans on familiar themes of protection, loyalty, teamwork, and caring for others in danger. It generally treats love and friendship positively, though much of the tension is played for laughs and the story’s moral world is more sentimental than deeply rooted. Christian families may want to discuss the difference between clever heroism and Christlike humility, and how real security is not found in a gifted rescuer alone but in the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Truths Reflected

• Protecting the vulnerable is treated as a good and honorable duty.
• Relationships are healthier when characters value and help one another.

Tensions to Discuss

• The film celebrates heroic self-confidence more than humble dependence on God, so parents may want to discuss why pride can distort even good gifts.
• Danger is often turned into comedy, which may blur the seriousness of harming others and why Christian love values every life.

Content & Discernment Markers

Occult & Spiritual Content

• Occult material does not stand out here. The story uses fantasy animation and talking garden figures, but it does not center on spells, spiritual practices, or supernatural teaching. Parents may simply want to remind children that fantasy fun is different from truth, and that Christian hope rests in Jesus Christ rather than magical rescue.

Sexuality & Relationships

• Romance stays light and playful. Gnomeo and Juliet flirt, laugh together, and share affectionate moments, and another character is teased about having a crush with lines like, “She loves me. She loves me not.” The tone is innocent, but parents of younger children may still want to discuss the difference between caring affection and making romance the center of identity.

Identity Themes

• Identity themes are not a major issue. The film’s focus is more on role, duty, and belonging in the group, such as Sherlock calling himself the “sworn protector of London’s garden gnomes.” This can open a simple conversation about finding purpose in serving others rather than in status or applause.

Violence & Intensity

• The opening quickly establishes danger with kidnapped gnomes “seconds away from being smashed,” and the villain declares he will “crush every last gnome in London.” The threat is serious in wording, even though the animated tone keeps it from feeling graphic. Parents may want to discuss how the movie uses comedy to soften fear.
• There are repeated action beats with yelling, grunting, chasing, and fighting, including Sherlock’s confrontation with Moriarty: “Come, Sherlock. Come dance with me.” The scene plays as slapstick adventure rather than realistic violence, but it still builds tension for sensitive children.
• Later, a whole garden is reported missing, and a news report says, “Someone is stealing innocent gnomes.” The repeated disappearance theme gives the movie an ongoing kidnapping mystery rather than a one-off scare.

Language & Humour

• Language is mostly mild and comic. The clearest example is “Fudge buckets,” and there is also a censored gag when a character reacts to the garden with a bleeped-style phrase. Insults and put-down humor are present in a light family-movie way. Parents who are trying to limit substitute swearing may want to note the tone.

Other Content Notes

• The humor includes parody titles like “Game of Gnomes,” “The Twilight Gnome,” and “Spider-Man: Gnomecoming,” along with a lot of self-aware jokes. This keeps the movie breezy, but it can also make serious moments feel less weighty.
• Sherlock is dismissive toward Watson in places, saying, “Of course you are” when Watson objects to being treated like a punching bag. The exchange is played for laughs, but it gives parents a chance to talk about respect in friendship and leadership.

Notable Moments

• Opening threat: The villain frames the conflict in direct terms of destruction and smashing kidnapped gnomes.

  “The kidnapped gnomes are in the museum. And seconds away from being smashed!”

• Villain’s vow: Moriarty openly promises to keep harming gnomes, setting the tone for the mystery and danger.

  “And we will keep playing this little game, Sherlock, until I crush every last gnome in London.”

• Romantic teasing: A light crush subplot is introduced through playful banter.

  “She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me…”

• Missing gnomes mystery: The story broadens from one rescue to a citywide disappearance plot.

  “Someone is stealing innocent gnomes.”

Discussion Prompts

• Protecting others: What makes someone a good protector? Is it only being strong and clever, or also being humble and caring?
  • Biblical guidance: Scripture honors defending others, but it also calls us to humility and servant-hearted love.
  • Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4, Proverbs 31:8-9
• Humor and harm: When a movie makes danger funny, does that change the fact that hurting others is still wrong?
  • Biblical guidance: God calls us to value others and not treat harm lightly, even when a story uses jokes.
  • Scripture: Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:32
• Friendship and respect: How does Sherlock treat Watson at times, and what would a more loving friendship look like?
  • Biblical guidance: Christian friendship shows patience, kindness, and honor rather than using people.
  • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, John 15:12
• Where hope comes from: Why do stories often look for one great hero to save everyone? How is Christian hope different?
  • Biblical guidance: Human heroes can help, but our deepest rescue and lasting hope are found in Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture: Psalm 20:7, John 16:33