It's damning with faint praise to say, "That could've been worse" but that's the feeling that comes from watching Gnomeo and Juliet, the CGI animated film starring the voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt.
A G-rated remake of William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet, one of its biggest critics was John Lasseter, who infamously said, "Why are we making this?" prior to dumping it from Disney Animation's release schedule.
Taken over by Elton John's Rocket Pictures imprint, it slid into theatres during the February 2011 dump period and left a mere $177 million richer - a minor hit at best. Gnomeo and Juliet offers some laughs but it's far too referential for its own good.
Rocket/Touchstone Pictures' Gnomeo and Juliet Stars James McAvoy, Emily Blunt & Ozzy Osbourne
In a pair of townhouses with names like 'Montague and Capulet' (their addresses are '2B' and 'Not 2B'; geddit?), there are two packs of feuding garden gnomes, one with blue caps the other wearing red. Much like the characters in Toy Story, these gnomes can only move and speak when humans aren't around, but they lack Buzz and Woody's devotion to their owners.
But when blue-hatted Gnomeo (McAvoy) and red-capped Juliet (Blunt) meet cute in an abandoned greenhouse, sparks fly between these star-crossed lovers. Can true love find a way to unite these two tribes of feuding gnomes? Will director Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2) give this flick a happy ending?
Whether it's celebs like Ozzy Osbourne or Hulk Hogan voicing a fawn and a gnome respectively, or a pack of red-hatted minions straight out of Despicable Me, this flick oozes cute. Younger kids may get bowled over by all the adorableness, but their parents and older siblings will likely be reaching for the insulin. Producers Elton John (who also throws in a mix of new tunes and classics for the soundtrack), David Furnish and their army of scriptwriters clearly wanted to make this film as appealing as possible. Unfortunately, the result not only tries too hard but it comes off as film-making by committee; it's not what some visionary wanted up on the screen but what a marketing group thought would appeal to the kiddies. There's a real been-there-done-that feel when watching this movie.
Part of the problem is that this film gets too referential for its own good. Not only does "Bill" Shakespeare (voiced by Patrick Stewart) show up to dispense wisdom, but you get gags like a pair of attached garden gnomes saying to each other, "I wish I knew how to quit you." That joke's already dated in 2011, how will it play in 2021?
Gnomeo and Juliet DVD Extras
"Elton Builds a Garden" follows Elton John as he oversees the production and discusses using his music in the film. The featurettes "Frog Talk With Ashley Jensen" and "Fawn of Darkness" shines a spotlight on voice actors Ashley Jensen and Ozzy Osbourne as they record their lines. There are a pair of alternate endings, a few deleted and alternate scenes and finally, a music video for a rewritten "Crocodile Rock" featuring Elton John and Nelly Furtado.
Gnomeo and Juliet Not Half Bad . . . But Not Half Good
This movie is inoffensive film-made by a marketing committee. Little kids may get swept away by all the cutesiness and their parents might snicker at the occasional joke, but there's nothing here that will stay with you after the credits roll.
The Gnomeo and Juliet Blu-Ray gets a 2/5.
Dominic von Riedemann - Dominic is the Animated Film Feature Writer, and winner of 11 Suite 101 Editors' Choice Awards.
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