Touchstone Pictures breaks new ground in what is the first true big-screen attempt at an animated adaptation of Shakespeare for children, and never was a story of more gnome than this of Juliet and her Gnomeo.
Literally. There are a lot of gnomes in “Gnomeo & Juliet.” Two households full of them: Miss Montague and her blues and Mr. Capulet with his reds. And thus on fair Verona Street the scene is set.
The film's nine writers, among them Kelly Asbury (“Shrek 2”), who also directed, stay relatively true to the plot points of the classic tale. The two houses are embroiled in a long feud fueled by feats of lawnmower power and classic cartoon pranks.
Voiced by Emily Blunt, Juliet is the much-prized daughter of Lord Redbrick (Michael Caine). She is a feisty beauty, but her father believes she is delicate and tries to keep her far from the action.
In an attempt to prove him wrong, she sets out ninja-style to steal a rare flower from an abandoned greenhouse in a nearby yard.
It is here that she encounters the adventurous son of Lady Blueberry (Maggie Smith), Gnomeo, also in disguise. The voice of James McAvoy gives Gnomeo as much charm and swagger as a garden gnome can have, coming off as both cocky and likable. Juliet is instantly smitten.
The two engage in a tango of action and flirtation, until the inevitable discovery of their true identities, their fated star-crossed love.
The pair pursues their love in Shakespearean form, complete with a balcony scene, eventually deciding that if their love cannot unite their families, then they will run away together and build a garden of their own.
But fate has other plans for them, as do the writers, and here the paths of Gnomeo and Romeo begin to diverge. There is a turn toward the end, and it's a blatant move away from Shakespeare.
It can be argued that this move is for the best given that this is a children's movie, not the Globe Theater.
Still, the strength of the story itself rests mostly with its close ties to Shakespeare. Take that away and the script feels more like a great title and nine writers in a room trying to make it work.
And for the most part, they do make it work. The momentum slows at times, but it doesn't stall.
If you like Shakespeare, you shouldn't expect to see Franco Zeffirelli, but you can expect to be entertained. Keep your eyes peeled for the many Shakespearean references from “Romeo & Juliet” to “Hamlet” and “Macbeth,” as well as an appearance by the Bard himself (voiced by Patrick Stewart).
Executive producers Elton John and David Furnish must have called in some favors, as the voice cast boasts some A-list English actors.
Among them are also Jason Statham as Tybalt and Ozzy Osbourne in what is surely his most intelligible role to date.
Sir Elton also lends his name as composer for a soundtrack that includes many of his own revamped classics, among them “Tiny Dancer,” “Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting,” “Your Song,” “Don't Go Breaking My Heart” and a remake of “Crocodile Rock” sung as a duet with Nelly Furtado, as well as two new songs, “Hello Hello” and “Love Builds a Garden.”
With the flair of Elton John, a big-name voice cast and the timelessness of William Shakespeare, you won't be disappointed by “Gnomeo & Juliet.” I forswear it.
