The Emoji Movie Review: Surface-Level Fun with a Christian Lens

🎬 Movie Overview

Title: The Emoji Movie
Release Year: 2017
Director: Tony Leondis
Writers: Tony Leondis, Eric Siegel, Mike White
Cast: T.J. Miller (Gene), James Corden (Hi‑5), Anna Faris (Jailbreak), Maya Rudolph (Smiler), Patrick Stewart (Poop), plus voices by Steven Wright, Jennifer Coolidge, Christina Aguilera
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rating: PG (rude humor, mild peril, fleeting innuendo)
Runtime: 86 minutes

🎥 Movie Summary

Set inside a smartphone’s digital city, Textopolis, the film follows Gene—a "meh" emoji who inexplicably shows multiple emotions. Marked as a malfunction, he’s slated for deletion unless he can become “normal.” With friends Hi‑5 and Jailbreak, Gene journeys through apps like Candy Crush and Spotify to reach the Cloud, facing self-doubt, app-destruction, and a villainous program bent on wiping out their world.

📖 Christian Perspective

At its core, the film carries a message of identity and self-acceptance rather than conformity. Gene’s journey echoes God’s design: we weren’t made to fit a one-size mold. The story, while playful, prompts discussions about self-worth, belonging, and using our uniqueness for good—concepts deeply rooted in Scripture. Though unspoken, affirmations of individuality and nonviolent self-expression reflect Christian themes of respect for God’s creation.

🎞️ Storytelling & Direction

Leondis and team take a high-concept approach, but the script feels overstuffed. The plot borrows heavily from films like Inside Out and Wreck-It Ralph, mixing in overt product and app placements that distract more than they enrich. The pacing is frenetic, relying on internet culture references and brand gags to drive humor. While the visuals are bright and slick, the narrative lacks coherence and emotional impact.

🎭 Performances & Character Development

T.J. Miller brings enthusiastic charm as Gene, though the humor often reverts to surface-level quips. James Corden’s Hi‑5 and Anna Faris’s Jailbreak offer some warmth, but many characters remain underdeveloped. Maya Rudolph’s Smiler feels more villainous than dimensional. As a whole, the cast carries the film’s weak script with varying success, but the emotional arcs feel thin.

🎨 Cinematography & Production Quality

Technically, the film delivers clean CGI and colorful worldbuilding across different app-inspired realms. The transitions—from Textopolis to Candy Crush to Spotify—show creativity in concept, even if the integration feels commercial. A standout sequence is the travel through Spotify, which relies on musical storytelling. However, the heavy product placement sometimes disrupts immersion.

⭐ Strengths for Christian Audiences

✅ Promotes self-worth and authenticity
✅ No explicit profanity or graphic content
✅ Light humor and mild peril suited for older children (5+)

❌ Critiques & Shortcomings

❌ Script is cluttered and product-driven
❌ Lacks deep character growth or moral complexity
❌ Relies on cultural trends that quickly date the film

👨👩👧👦 Audience & Family Appeal

The PG rating reflects "rude humor" and brief innuendo (e.g. “hands” joke). Mild peril arises when characters risk deletion or face digital threats, but it's never truly frightening. Parents may note occasional romantic hints and comedic references to bodily functions (the poop emoji appears in a lighthearted way), which may need explanation.

📢 Final Rating & Verdict