Gnome Alone is a 2018 CG animated film by Cinesite that centers around a centuries-old war between Gnomes, who protect the earth and "Troggs" whom would consume everything they can.
When high school student Chloe discovers that her new home’s garden gnomes are sentient and their mission, she must decide between the pursuit of a desired high school life or taking up the fight against the Troggs.
This film has nothing to do with Home Alone.
Tropes Associated With Gnome Alone:
- Alpha Bitch: Brittany, the leader of the BTCs, a Girl Posse who look down on those less popular than her and, while she initially takes a liking to Chloe, is still condescending towards her and turns vindictive when Chloe breaks off their friendship.
- Animal Motif: Cats for Chloe, as four of her belongings have cat images, and she supposedly shares a name with Brittany’s pet cat.
- Bubblegum Popping: Tiffany is prone to chewing and blowing bubbles with her gum.
- Brainless Beauty: Trey, Chloe’s Implied Love Interest and Brittany’s ex boyfriend is a rare male example. He just seems to talk about whatever is on his mind.
- Chekhov's Skill: Chloe’s basketball shooting skills come in handy when she takes down the Mega-Trogg.
- Color-Coded Characters: The gnomes dress in red hats while the Troggs are all purple.
- Commonality Connection: Liam is an avid Combat Captain player as Chloe is.
- Cyberbullying: While trying to get back a MacGuffin necklace from Brittany at the school dance, our heroine Chloe has to make the choice between her Nerd friend Liam and Brittany's approval. When Liam tries to storm off, one of Brittany's groupies trips him with her foot and causes him to Face Plant onto the floor. For further humiliation, she snaps a picture and posts it online with her phone so they can all laugh about it over and over again.
- Disappeared Dad: There’s no mention of what happened to Chloe’s father, but he’s out of the picture.
- Does Not Like Spam: Chloe doesn’t like broccoli, and neither does the Trogg she tries to feed.
- Friendless Background: Justified with Chloe, because she’s unable to make any lasting friendships on account of moving all over the country.
- Free-Range Children: Over the course of most of the film, Chloe is home alone without parental supervision and goes to school herself.
- Gamer Chick: Chloe seems to be this, as she tries unsuccessfully to log on to an online game called Combat Captain.
- Geek Physiques: Liam is visibly skinny with gangly limbs, glasses, and Big Ol' Eyebrows.
- The Ghost: Liam makes a few references to his grandmother and Chloe’s maternal Aunt Jess is on speakerphone with Catherine, but neither of them are shown onscreen.
- Girly Girl with a Tomboy Streak: Chloe has a fondness for pink things but she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.
- Girl Next Door: Played with. Chloe is a platonic version for Liam. They also don’t live next door, but they live close enough for frequent visits and walking to and from school.
- High-School Dance: There’s a dance at Chloe’s new school, but there’s not much dancing and Chloe ends up leaving early.
- Inelegant Blubbering: Liam is a rare male version of this after Chloe comes to rescue him and apologizing for how she treated him at the dance.
- Insult of Endearment: Zook often calls Chloe “Pinky.”
- In with the In Crowd: Chloe nearly joins Brittany’s clique, but after seeing Brittany’s true colors, she blurts out a "The Reason You Suck" Speech before storming off.
- Limited Wardrobe: Chloe and the BTCs are the only characters that get a change of clothes, but even then they have one other outfit each.
- Meaningful Name: Zamfeer, the flute playing gnome is a nod to noted Romanian flautist Gheorghe Zamfir.
- Montage: Of Chloe and Liam zapping the Troggs throughout the house, set to the tune "Our House" by Becky G.
- Motor Mouth: Tiffany is rapid in speech, despite not having too many lines.
- Mr. Exposition: It’s Alpha that explains why his gnome brethren protect Chloe’s house.
- No Social Skills: Introductions and social graces aren’t Liam’s strong suits.
- Nosy Neighbor: Liam’s not a nosy neighbor in the usual sense, but it was his curiosity that got him involved with Chloe and the gnomes.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: While they are portrayed as chaotic and destructive, the Troggs don't look at first like a lethal threat, as they content themselves with causing mayhem inside the house. However, if left unchecked, they can fuse into a Mega-Trogg that will consume everything.
- Only One Name: None of the characters are given last names.
- Our Gnomes Are Weirder: The gnomes that occupy Chloe’s new home can pass for garden gnome statues if they stay still long enough. They are also in a centuries old war against creepy little monsters with voracious appetites. There’s also no female gnomes shown.
- Phoneaholic Teenager: Chloe’s introductory scene shows her scrolling her phone listlessly, but Brittany and her sidekicks really take the cake.
- Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: Tiffany and Chelsea’s reaction when they see the Mega-Trogg.
- Shipper on Deck: Implied. Catherine seems to be one for Chloe and Liam after watching their introduction from afar.
- Shouldn't We Be in School Right Now?: Played with. Chloe and Liam are shown walking to school and hanging out by the bleachers in gym class but they spend much of the next day Skipping School.
- Skyward Scream: Chloe lets out one when she finds out Brittany threw away her keystone necklace.
- Strange Minds Think Alike: Catherine describes her and Chloe’s new home as having “good bones.” Later Liam says the same thing about it.
- Struggling Single Mother: Played with. Chloe’s mother Catherine is frequently moving them all over the country-unable to make things work out or take root in one place and isn’t fully aware of the impact it’s having on Chloe. But she’s optimistic, holds a good job, and works hard to make a nice home and life for the two of them.
- Supernatural-Proof Father: Catherine is unaware of the goings on of the gnomes, or even that there are gnomes. She’s also the only adult human character
- Toilet Humor: Zamfeer had to hide his scent with feces to survive in the Troggs realm.
- Toilet Teleportation: Chloe, Liam, and the gnomes somehow escape from the Troggs this way.
- Totally Radical: The BTCs talk in very stereotyped teenager speak and obsessively take selfies.
- The Voiceless: Chelsea doesn't have any spoken lines.
- Youthful Freckles: Upon close inspection, Chloe has a light dusting of freckles across her cheeks.
