Movie Review Rewind: Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)

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William Shakespeare probably never thought his story of Romeo & Juliet would be told as many times as it has and in so many ways. A story of two young lovers who want to live their lives together. But, their families forbid them to do so. It combines the themes of love and war. Now, having a story such as this be about garden gnomes is unimaginable, but thanks to director Kelly Asbury, it has become a reality with Gnomeo & Juliet. And, Elton John is a producer. They use his music throughout and he even becomes a garden gnome as well. I know all of this sounds like a good time, but you and I would both be wrong.

Let’s start with the plot first, which is self-explanatory anyways. Gnomeo Montague (James McAvoy) is a Blue garden gnome while Juliet (Emily Blunt) is a Red garden gnome. The Blue and Red garden gnomes are enemies who live next door from each other. Each backyard wants to have the best, most beautiful garden in the entire neighborhood. But, each gnome family tries to sabotage or ruin the other’s garden. This is their war. There lies a beautiful, rare flower in an abandoned yard. Gnomeo and Juliet meet because they both want the flower in their garden. This is where the two forbidden lovers first meet. And the rest of the story we know. Well besides lawn mowing races and no tragic ending.

When we know smart, sophisticated animated films can be made, it is disappointing when one with some good ideas and real potential let’s it go to waste. Gnomeo & Juliet begins by copying a story that everyone is familiar with. But, the attraction of telling that story by using lawn gnomes of all things is funny and interesting to see.

There are some good moments in this movie, but it never takes off. It goes in one specific direction and we know Gnomeo and Juliet aren’t going to die. It’s a family movie!

For the most part, this animated movie has no heart or brains. Kids will probably like it no matter what, but for the adults who go with them—forget it. It is no Pixar or Dreamworks animation. Maybe those two studios have set the bar too high for movies like this one to even get close. But, with a voice cast that includes Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, and even Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan, this movie should have been funnier and a lot better.

Gnomeo & Juliet is targeted for kids and it will please its audience. However, this is just an average animated movie that should deliver a lot more than it does. Trying to tell the story of Romeo & Juliet by using garden gnomes is a nice attempt, but the movie is barely trying and that’s a mistake. If barely trying is all you got then you should have never used your efforts on Gnomeo and Juliet because it suffers for it. It lacks energy and provides minimal entertainment for the whole family.

“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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