Gnomeo and Juliet: Movie Review

Gnomeo and Juliet: Movie Review

Gnomeo and Juliet
Rating: 7/10
Voice Cast: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Jason Statham, Ashley Jensen, Michael Caine, Matt Lucas
Director: Kelly Asbury
Romeo and Juliet - told in a gnomes' setting - with music (essentially his greatest hits) by Elton John.
I can tell you've already decided to divert your attention away but wait, come back.
Set in the back gardens of two rival neighbours, the gnomes have been at war with each other since forever. On the one side, the blue-hatted gnomes and on the other, the reds.
But when Gnomeo (McAvoy) bumps into Juliet (Blunt), the pair fall in love and decide to carry on regardless of the ramifications of their relationship.
However, as the feud between the two sides intensifies, Gnomeo and Juliet find themselves right in the middle of it.
Gnomeo and Juliet is a colourfully garish diversion.
It's also a little bit smart too - with the opening packing in a few adult jokes or nods only Shakespeare fans may get, there are signs the humour is aimed at all the family. Visual gags like a banana on a laptop, as opposed to an apple, are prevalent - and they're used as much as a few lines of Shakespeare here and there to provide homage to the source material.
With a flighty, zesty script and an infinitely top-notch vocal cast (Ashley Jensen as Juliet's frog is an insane stand-out), the film crackles along apace and with an eye on the lunatic.
Throw in Elton John's best songs (I'll even forgive the Saturday chorus refrain being changed to "Gnomeo" during Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting) and this is a relative joy, which only dips a little towards the end.
Kids will love it; parents won't find their patience too sorely tested - and even purists of Romeo and Juliet will appreciate the respect with which the writers have treated the story.

Gnomeo and Juliet is great lightweight family fodder - with completely nutty moments, it's good fun all round.