Review of Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) by Joanna B — 01 Mar 2016

A rom-com by any other name.

As the cheeky little gnome in the opening monologue admits "this story has been told before ... a lot" and this time Shakespeare's best known tragedy of romance amid warring families has had a ceramic facelift.

Although the majority of the plot points remain the same (majority), William himself would be surprised by this offbeat 3D computer animated take.

Set outside its original Verona scene laid at the bards own birthplace; the fair suburban Stratford-upon-Avon, director Kelly Ashbury chucks away the mildly confusing ye-old English and in its place a mountain of pop culture references and Elton John musical numbers and switches out the humanoid star crossed lovers with round-bellied, knee-high, pointy-hat wearing kitschy brittle terra-cotta gnomes.

Separated by a thin alley, a sturdy fence and opposing colour schemes, adjoining homes 2b and not 2B Verona Drive are inhabited by bitterly feuding senior citizens Mr. Capulet (Richard Wilson) and Miss Montage (Julie Walters).

Their unabashed loathing for each other has trickled down and rages on in their perfectly manicured gardens. Each time their backs are turned the red-Capulet's and blue-bonnets unfreeze and spring to life.

Like their owners the two groups, lead by Lord Redbrick (Michael Caine) and Lady Bluebury (Maggie Smith) conspire each others demise.

On the offensive for his blue brotherin Gnomeo (James McAvoy) engages his red rival Tybalt (Jason Statham) to a lawn-mower race in neural alley territory. When hotheaded Tybalt cheats to win, Gnomeo decides to cross stealthily into the Capulet clans' yard for revenge.

Meanwhile, Lord Redbrick's adventurous daughter Juliet (Emily Blunt) decides to defy her father and venture out in disguise from her sheltered life into the alley to obtain a captivating flower hence elevating the blue garden to number one.

Quickly capturing Gnomeo's inquisitive attention; the pair fall cap-over-curly-toed-heels and soon parting becomes a sweet sorrow as their brief exchange of wit is marred by the discovery of their lineage.

Break all the rules, the couple meet once again and enjoy one perfect date far from home. Befriending a long-abandoned plastic pink flamingo (Jim Cummings) and hearing his laboring story of painful love lost; Gnomeo and Juliet decide they want to be together alone.

As Juliet returns home to prepare, Lord Redbrick forces the idea of marriage to the suitable by dull Paris (Stephen Merchant), tensions boil over for the blues when an a surprise attack from the red Tybalt leaves the appearance that Gnomeo has been killed .

Deciding there is nothing for it but to punish all reds, the blues decide to bring in a monster-truck lawn mower called the Terrafeirminator, but exactly who's story will end in woe?

As the story begins to devate from the play, Shakespeare's statue (Patrick Stewart) tries to explain the story is not supposed to have a happy ending, however this is the inanimate garden gnome version... enough said.

With constant sly references to the Bard; a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern moving van, a gnome fixed with The Taming of the Glue, a truck with the logo "Tempest Teapots," the films loopy sensibility is quite endearing.

The eclectic mash up of voices ranges is truly inspired. From distinctive Oscar winning thespians Maggie Smith and Michael Caine to the dulcet tones of ex-wrestler Hulk Hogan, and even the bat-chewing heavy-metal Prince of Darkness himself Ozzy Osbourne (as a gentle fawn) would be alright in the bards' book.

The Verdict: Sadly in this case, not all's well that ends well. The fused garden shed of ideas is simply too cluttered and the warm-hearted humour it is trying to embrace falls far short of expectations.

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 18/02/2011.