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Shakespeare’s plays have been made and remade—reworked and revised—time and time again since the poor guy’s death (and probably even before that). Films inspired by Shakespearian plays are a dime a dozen—maybe even a sixpence a dozen. But, as far as I can recall, no one ever remade one of his plays using animated garden gnomes—until director Kelly Asbury’s Gnomeo & Juliet came along.
No one knows how long they’ve been fighting—or why their feud even began—but the gnomes who live in the neighboring gardens owned by Miss Montague (Julie Walters) and Mr. Capulet (Richard Wilson) are bitter enemies.
Juliet (Emily Blunt) is a Red. Her father, Lord Redbrick (Michael Caine), is so determined to protect her that he’s placed her on a pedestal (literally!), making her all the more eager to get out of the garden to prove herself.
Gnomeo (James McAvoy) is a Blue. The son of Lady Bluebury (Maggie Smith), he’s often expected to lead the Blues against their arch rivals, whether in lawnmower races or destructive pranks.
The two meet by accident—while they’re both in disguise. By the time they realize that they’re supposed to hate each other, it’s too late; they’ve already fallen in love. Now, with the families’ feud escalating, they’re torn between their family responsibility and their new love.
The gnomes’ love may be new, but the story isn’t. Still, while the plot isn’t particularly original or surprising, Gnomeo & Juliet does give the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet an enjoyably playful twist. Director Kelly Asbury—who also helmed Shrek 2, the franchise’s best—has fun with the centuries-old tale, throwing in lawnmower races and tacky lawn ornaments and even an over-eager pink plastic flamingo, who (in a surprisingly serious scene) shares his own experiences with love. And, for the most part, his wacky experiments pay off.
For former English majors like me, Gnomeo & Juliet is a devilish little treat—a lovably irreverent parody of a well-known (and long-studied) classic. It isn’t a straight retelling of the original story—because, as Gnomeo contends during a conversation with a statue of Bard himself (voiced by Patrick Stewart), Shakespeare’s ending is rubbish. But there are so many similarities—along with plenty of clever gags and numerous references to other Shakespearian works—that it’s guaranteed to bring an impish grin to any lit geek’s face.
Even for grown-ups who didn’t study Shakespeare for hours on end, though, it’s still a fun family film. If nothing else, you’ll love spotting the voice talent—from Hulk Hogan and Jason Statham to Ozzy Osbourne and Dolly Parton. And if you also happen to love Elton John music, all the better—because the executive producer’s musical touches are everywhere, from the trio of original songs to James Newton Howard’s score, which is infused with the eccentric performer’s entire catalogue of hits. It’s a little bit…heavy-handed (you thought I was going to say “It’s a little bit funny,” didn’t you?), but it’s also pretty remarkable to realize just how a few notes of an iconic Elton John song can bring a flood of lyrics and melodies to mind.
For kids, meanwhile, Gnomeo & Juliet is just a short and silly little animated adventure, with all kinds of funny characters and non-stop garden gnome mischief. There’s singing and dancing and all sorts of craziness. And what’s better than that?
Whether you’re a Shakespearian scholar or just a fan of funny kids’ movies, you’ll find something to love about Gnomeo & Juliet. And, after seeing it, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for your neighbors’ tacky lawn ornaments.
Blu-ray Review:
If the super-short story of Gnomeo & Juliet left you wanting more, you’re in luck—because the film’s Blu-ray release comes with a collection of special features that’s nearly as long as the movie itself.
Extras include story reels of two alternate endings (one of which I actually preferred over the one that made the cut) and eight lengthy alternate/deleted scenes. Here, you’ll find a whole lot more: more of pink flamingo Featherstone (in various versions—including a laid-back hippie version), more characters, and more subplots, as well as a totally random scene that involves a CSI-style investigation. Though I was generally relieved that Asbury chose to cut them from the final film, these extra scenes are still worth a look, if only because they offer a fascinating look inside the filmmakers’ imagination.
In addition to the deleted scenes, you’ll also find a Gnomeo & Juliet-themed music video for “Crocodile Rock,” a short feature on Elton John’s involvement in the project, and a closer look at the voiceover work of both Ashley Jensen (who plays Juliet’s frog friend, Nanette) and Ozzy Osbourne.
While none of the special features are especially noteworthy, Ozzy’s feature is easily the most entertaining (followed by Ashley Jensen’s). Both are short and sweet—just like the movie. But if you’d like to see more from the characters, you might want to spend some time with the deleted scenes, too.
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