CAST: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Jason Statham, Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Jim Cummings, Richard Wilson, Julie Walters; DIRECTOR: Kelly Asbury; WRITERS: Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley; GENRE: Animation, Family, SciFi/Fantasy; RUNNING TIME: 84 minutes.
Technical Assessment: 4
Moral Assessment: 3.5
CINEMA Rating: Audience all Ages
Is this animated Shakespeare? Not really. Although the title is a takeoff from "Romeo and Juliet" most of the characters in Gnomeo & Juliet are garden gnomes in the yards of English homes. We know this is England because we glimpse a bus whose destination is Stratford on Avon. These gnomes have obviously been sneaking off to the movies while their human owners were not looking. And they have been watching the Toy Story series because they do the same thing, have a life of their own but go into their expected poses as soon as humans turn up.
What might make Gnomeo & Juliet more enjoyable for film buffs is the strong voice cast. James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are the starcrossed lovers and Michael Caine is plain to hear as Juliet’s father. You have to listen quickly to catch Julie Walters and Richard Wilson as the human Capulets and Montagues. There is a monstrously huge mower, called the Terrafirmanator, obtained by a computer savvy gnome, Benny (Matt Lucas)—and it is ‘voiced’ by wrestler Hulk Hogan. Someone for everyone! Even a Hispanic-sounding flamingo from the garden. (And a nice trivial pursuit question: what film did Maggie Smith and Jason Statham appear in together? Here it is, she Gnomeo’s mother and he the rather typecast Tybalt.)
Yes, we know what is going to happen, but it is entertaining to see how this entertainment for children incorporates Shakespeare. And, yes, the soundtrack replete with familiar melodies is a collection of Elton John and Bernie Taupin songs because the film is a product of Elton John and David Furnish who have turned their attention to children.
