The Gnome-Mobile

A terrible movie. The children had already proven themselves in The Three Lives of Thomasina and Mary Poppins, so I must admit that they did quite well. Ed Wynn played an amusing character part. "Jasper" was cute. Really, though, that's all this movie has to recommend it.

Disney have created some delightfully imaginative and profound movies, including Thomasina, but these gnomes lacked a soul. It displayed the outward trappings of conscientious environmentalism, of humanistic optimism, but failed to achieve any emotional or philosophical depth. I'm certain that was as intended, but without that depth I see no reason to watch, unless you really like bubbles.

The plot leaked like a sieve with little or no coherence between elements. Major ending conflict appears within the last ten minutes, while other major conflicts reach a visual but not theoretical conclusion. The "bad guys" who want to put the old man who sees gnomes into a mental institution crash their car, but unless they are completely dead, may certainly return to report D. J.'s erratic behavior AND produce competent witnesses. A psychologist has already examined the man and declared him unstable.

The circus guy hanging from his own antlers, unless rescued, might actually come to harm. If he does not, what's to stop him from chasing down more gnomes? The threat is not eliminated, merely postponed long enough for that ancient rolls royce to move the plot to the next segment.

Pass on this one, guys. Watch The Three Lives of Thomasina instead.