Gnomeo and Juliet Review-
Gnomeo and Juliet is based on William Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. In this case, the characters are ceramic garden gnomes and their lawn friends. Juliet (voiced by Emily Blunt) and her family dress in bright red and live in the yard belonging to Mr. Capulet. On the other side of the fence, Gnomeo (voiced by James McAvoy) lives with his bright blue family on the lawn of Miss. Montague. Closely following the Shakespeare’s play, they know they are suppose to be enemies but fall in love regardless of the color of their clothing. It is not just a feud between the lawn ornaments but also between the two human homeowners.
Many of the characters are voiced by people one would expect to fit their characters such as, Maggie Smith as Lady Bluebury (Gnomeo’s mother), Michael Caine as Lord Redbrick (Juliet’s father), Patrick Stewart as Bill Shakespeare, and Juliet Waters as Miss Montague. Ozzy Osbourne who was the character of Fawn, a reindeer, was the most surprising voice-over.
This is a rocking version of the classic tale with music by Sir Elton John. Some of his classic songs such as “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Rocket Man,” and “Bennie and the Jets” make the movie memorable. While producing the movie, he even wrote original music for the show. Sir Elton was caricatured in the movie as a piano-playing gnome.
This movie is a simplified version of Romeo and Juliet that children can understand and enjoy as well as a movie for adults. There is humor that kids will get right off the bat and then there is the subtle humor that adults will enjoy. Adults, be sure to listen for the fungi reference. However, the movie has a surprise twist ending from the original play that will leave everyone happy. I give this 5 out of 5 stars!!!
