The strangest thing about Sneaks, a new animated movie co-directed by Rob Edwards and Christopher Jenkins and written by Edwards, isn’t that shoes become sentient beings, but that a stacked cast is squandered on such a plodding and predictable story.

I suspect that 'Sneaks' is in no real danger of becoming a classic. I also suspect that there will be those who watch this inscrutable kids flick and appreciate the unexpected amount of effort that went into telling a story this unconvincing.

It’s clearly told from the heart and as exhilarating as putting on a new pair of kicks.

Children’s movies should never be this cynical. Kids deserve joy, imagination, wonder—not whatever this is.