Genre
Animation | Comedy | Romance
Director
Kelly Asbury
Country
UK | USA
Voice Cast
James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, Ashley Jensen, Matt Lucas, Stephen Merchant, Patrick Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne, Jim Cummings, Hulk Hogan, Julie Walters, Richard Wilson, Kelly Asbury, Dolly Parton
Storyline
While the neighboring gardens are at war, gnomes Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) fall in love.
Opinion
Transforming one of Shakespeare's most famous plays into an animated Film can be a great way to propose the English writer to kids. However, it can also do the opposite job if the film isn't good, and I'm afraid that's what may happen with "Gnomeo & Juliet", this dull and hardly funny film.
I know someone has complained about it, but honestly I don't think there is a problem with recreating the play with garden gnomes. It isn't the brightest of the ideas, but it sure isn't the reason why the film doesn't work.
First of all, it almost seems like the writers didn't know where to focus. At first the story is going in a certain direction, trying to say that love is stronger than everything, and that it doesn't matter who you are or what family you belong to. A little clichéd but it's kind of close to Shakespeare. However, it slowly turns into a banal revenge story. I wasn't expecting the drama, the film is supposed to target kids after all, but neither I was expecting this.
Also, the film - or should I say garden? - is inhabited by unlikable and uninteresting characters that have no depth whatsoever. Of course I'm not talking about the Flamingo. He is the only interesting (side) character and for some weird reason he has more depth than both Gnomeo and Juliet, and it's easier to feel emotionally attached to him.
Another problem is Elton John's contributions. I love his music and personality, but I believe he doesn't have a place in the film. His songs are beautiful, but they just don't fit the film, and his contribution makes the film look like a commercial for his album.
The animation is nice but nothing special really. But when it comes to match the voices, the characters are weird. And just about the voice cast, with James McAvoy and Emily Blunt leading, and many others big names such as Michael Cane and Patrick Stewart supporting, none of the actors, despite their talent, are able to bring any depth to the material.
I know someone has complained about it, but honestly I don't think there is a problem with recreating the play with garden gnomes. It isn't the brightest of the ideas, but it sure isn't the reason why the film doesn't work.
First of all, it almost seems like the writers didn't know where to focus. At first the story is going in a certain direction, trying to say that love is stronger than everything, and that it doesn't matter who you are or what family you belong to. A little clichéd but it's kind of close to Shakespeare. However, it slowly turns into a banal revenge story. I wasn't expecting the drama, the film is supposed to target kids after all, but neither I was expecting this.
Also, the film - or should I say garden? - is inhabited by unlikable and uninteresting characters that have no depth whatsoever. Of course I'm not talking about the Flamingo. He is the only interesting (side) character and for some weird reason he has more depth than both Gnomeo and Juliet, and it's easier to feel emotionally attached to him.
Another problem is Elton John's contributions. I love his music and personality, but I believe he doesn't have a place in the film. His songs are beautiful, but they just don't fit the film, and his contribution makes the film look like a commercial for his album.
The animation is nice but nothing special really. But when it comes to match the voices, the characters are weird. And just about the voice cast, with James McAvoy and Emily Blunt leading, and many others big names such as Michael Cane and Patrick Stewart supporting, none of the actors, despite their talent, are able to bring any depth to the material.
