Gnomeo & Juliet is a CG-animated send-up of the William Shakespeare tale of star-crossed lovers that’s set in the world of … plaster garden gnomes. And it’s chock full of songs by Elton John, who also executive produced the film. Bear with me. It’s not as bad as it sounds.
Set in Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-Upon-Avon, this 3D film directed by Shrek 2’s Kelly Asbury follows feuding neighbors Mr. Capulet (voiced by Richard Wilson) and Miss Montague (voiced by Julie Walters), whose rivalry has even extended to their respective garden gnomes (with one set colored red and the other blue). But can a forbidden romance between a Red (Juliet, voiced by Emily Blunt) and a Blue (Gnomeo, voice of James McAvoy) bring the two sides together and end the feud (as well as rewrite the grim end of Shakespeare’s original)?
The voice cast also includes Michael Caine as Juliet’s father Lord Redbrick, Jason Statham as Gnomeo’s nemesis Tybalt, Maggie Smith as Lady Bluebury, Patrick Stewart as Bill Shakespeare, Ashley Jensen as Juliet’s confidante Nanette, Stephen Merchant as Paris, Matt Lucas as Gnomeo’s pal Benny, and Jim Cummings as the plastic pink flamingo Featherstone.
Like most people, I didn’t think much at all when they first heard of Gnomeo & Juliet. But it turns out it’s less like Hoodwinked! and more like this year’s Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, another toon with low expectations that turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It could become the next Shrek-size franchise (and with the potential of increasingly charmless sequels); of course, unless it finds an audience it will be the new Igor.
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