SNEAKS (2025)

SNEAKS is a computer-animated comedy about talking shoes. After getting lost in the streets of Manhattan, Ty (Antony Mackie), a cowardly yet rare basketball sneaker, goes on a quest to rescue his sister. Meanwhile, a celebrity known as “The Collector” tries to kidnap Ty and sell him on the black market. Can Ty “overstep” his deepest fears? SNEAKS is written and directed by Rob Edwards, who previously wrote Disney’s TREASURE PLANET.

Set in modern day New York City, SNEAKS focuses on Ty and Maxine, a pair of rare designer basketball sneakers who can talk. Maxine is adventurous and outgoing, while her brother, Ty, is cowardly and self-reserved. One day, Edson, a high school basketball player with big dreams, wins the pair of sneakers via a raffle. However, a villain known as “The Collector” steals the coveted “kicks” with an aim to appease the black market.

Later, Ty breaks free from the Collector’s motorcycle and lands smack dab in the middle of Manhattan. Now lost, Ty goes on a quest to reunite with his sister and return to his rightful owner.

Ty and Maxine interact with a colorful cast of shoes and enemies from the city’s underbelly. At the same time, the Collector vows to track down Ty before he loses a crucial black market deal.

Can Ty “step up” to the challenge?

SNEAKS is a competent adventure movie for younger audiences, but it suffers from a lack of creative ambition. The movie feels like an AI-generated interpretation of the art style found in DESPICABLE ME. The human characters are “overly round” and generic, the shoe models are “generic,” and the city environments feel like they were ripped straight out of SECRET LIFE OF PETS. SNEAKS has the aesthetics of a low-budget streaming movie but somehow earned a theatrical release. Happily, the movie is saved by its strong moral character.

SNEAKS is not an overtly Christian movie, but it has positive and redemptive elements. Ty and Maxine share a strong sibling bond with one another. Ty learns to overcome his lack of courage and socialize with the other shoes in New York City. Edson, the human owner of Ty and Maxine, volunteers at the local youth center and helps his single mom at home. This sense of community extends to the shoe characters in New York.

Throughout the adventure, Ty earns the trust of the New York shoe community, and they help him on his quest. Maxine convinces the Collector’s prisoner shoes to try to escape. Finally, the story ends on a strong note of repentance and forgiveness, and an act of charity.

However, the movie is not squeaky clean. SNEAKS features heavy slapstick violence and some “shoe” peril. Ty and Maxine are thrown into a speeding motorcycle at high speeds. Two human characters recklessly drive the crowded streets of Manhattan, almost causing several collisions. Ty also gets smacked and thrown around the allies and streets. In a flashback, a shoe victim describes his experience getting sliced in half by “The Forger” and his scissors. The villain’s dog chases Ty and causes havoc at a wedding party. Lastly, Ty and his friends face off against hungry sewer rats at least twice. In another flashback, a basketball athlete misses his dunk shot and falls on his back on the court. There are no blood or on-screen human deaths, but one shoe character loses his consciousness and “dies” in front of Ty’s mentor. The movie has a more pressing issue.

In terms of writing, SNEAKS is average. The slapstick comedy and character motivations are basic, but they get the job done. The various shoe puns are a neat addition. It may satisfy younger children but lacks substance for older children, teenagers and adults.

SNEAKS suffers from one crippling issue. It’s a “sole-less” attempt at copying the success of TOY STORY 2. SNEAKS follows a world of sentient shoes who live “in secret” when the humans are not around. A zealous collector kidnaps a child’s prized possession for huge profit. The main character and his friends experience “culture shock” within the city. The hero learns about the villain’s tragic incident in the past and how he lives in deep regret. While SNEAKS and TOY STORY 2 have different tones and subject matter, TOY STORY 2 executes similar story beats to much greater effect. There is no competition.

That said, SNEAKS has a strong moral compass. It leans toward strong sibling bonds, helping the community and a redemptive character arc for the villain. While the animation is decent, the art direction and character design leave a lot to be desired. Moreover, SNEAKS has some slapstick violence and peril with the “shoe” characters. Lastly, the plot has uncanny similarities to TOY STORY 2. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children.