Review of Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) by Lrbohnert — 09 Nov 2016

"Gnomeo & Juliet" doesn't have a single original idea in its pointy, ceramic head.

Spirited and brisk as this animated family film can be, its energy can't disguise the fact that it's an awkward mash-up of Shakespeare puns, hackneyed pop culture references and familiar Elton John songs, with one of those everything-but-the-kitchen-sink scripts cobbled together by committee. (Nine screenwriters receive credit, for those of you keeping score at home.) The concept of yard gnomes acting out the tragic romance of "Romeo and Juliet" is clever enough — I mean, come on, who doesn't like yard gnomes? — but that's pretty much all this film from director Kelly Asbury ("Shrek 2") is. Like "Snakes on a Plane," the title is the gag, and it tells you all you need to know.

And of course, "Gnomeo & Juliet" is in 3-D. There was never any question about that, was there? While adding a third dimension can provide an inspired sense of perspective and makes some of the details pop in a tactile way — the chips in the gnomes' paint, the smudges of dirt on their faces — it is, as always, unnecessary.

"Gnomeo & Juliet" does feature a strong voice cast, though, led by James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine and Maggie Smith, with cameos from the likes of Dolly Parton, Hulk Hogan and Ozzy Osbourne. Some of the one-liners and visual bits hit their targets, but for the most part, reheated gags and sequences that recall earlier, better animated films are the norm.