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Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the classic story of ‘star-cross’d lovers’, remains the ultimate tale of tragic romance destined to be read and performed indefinitely for all time to come. Therefore I would have loved to be in the boardroom when it was decided that it really needed to be told again… this time with gnomes. The unashamedly ridiculous premise to the movie is one that will either have you groaning at the mere thought or giggling with girlish excitement. I’ll assume most people will be in the former category, although it is not as atrocious as you may think.
Situated in the garden of two adjoining houses on Verona Drive, there’s a thriving feud between the Capulets (red house) and the Montagues (blue house). The constant competition between them would be enough but they are also garden gnomes, who only come to life when the owners of the house are out (Toy Story style). Therefore when Gnomeo and Juliet meet one fated, moonlit night in disguise and fall in love, they must carry on their illicit romance in secret as they realise they are from enemy houses. The tragedy proceeds complete with lawnmower races, Spanish flamingos and Borat-style Mankini wearing Gnomes finishing up with an obligatory dance and singalong as they go off into the sunset.
The humour in the film is unashamedly cheesy, the type of joke that makes you laugh and immediately feel ashamed at yourself for doing so. However the jokes are hit and miss and therefore don’t have quite the consistency to be fully a success. One such quote being ‘Who’s your gnomie?’ was particularly embarrassing along with other gnome puns that occasionally didn’t really make sense. Therefore, although gaining temporary success in cinemas, it doesn’t have the level of wit and polish that will give it a lasting legacy and an appeal to adults such as better animated children’s movies: Toy Story and Shrek.
The promising British cast including James McAvoy as Romeo, Emily Blunt as Juliet and Michael Caine as Lord Redbrick, the master of the Capulet household, are supplemented by unexpected cameos from Ozzy Osbourne as a surprisingly well-cast fawn and Hulk Hogan. In fact Hulk Hogan’s contribution in the advert for the Terrafirminator, the ultimate Chuck Norris-esque lawnmower that will make ‘your lawn afraid to grow’, is one of the high points in the film. However the role of Elton John as co-producer is questionable in that the musical score is dominated by his back catalogue, even at times when they seem completely irrelevant to what is going on to the point where he even makes a short, unexplained cameo.
The use of 3D adds little to the overall effect of the film, although it does not detract from it either. However the vibrant and colourful animation combined with the slapstick humour should keep children entertained, while the adults enjoy the more subtle puns pertaining to Shakespeare’s original play. At just over an hour long, it is short enough to retain your attention whilst saving you from the 3D glasses giving you a migraine. Overall I think if the idea of a tragic romance being played out with gnomes with decidedly phallic hats, sniffer-dog mushroom sidekicks and a lawnmower to be truly scared of appeals to you then you will enjoy Gnomeo and Juliet. If not, avoid at all costs.
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