Romeo. Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Gnomeo?

A garden decor rendition of Shakespeare: a British classic or just a weird film?

Image - Asbury, 2011

Arguably, this is one of the strangest films British cinemas have ever seen. Featuring a star-studded cast, these garden gnomes retell the story of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Gnomes haven’t really had their break into pop culture, unlike cars, planes or even toys. Yet, this captivating and quirky film catapults the Capulets into British pop culture. 

Imagine a small garden gnome steps onto a stage and begins to set the scene of Romeo and Juliet. You’re not dreaming. Gnomeo and Juliet’s story is just beginning, and it's as strange as you can imagine. 

Set in Shakespeare’s hometown, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Miss Capulet and Mr Montague constantly feud over whose garden is the best. Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) play the star-crossed lovers caught in the garden feud, which is continued by gnomes. Matt Lucas plays Benny, a little blue gnome, whose Shakespearean counterpart is Benvolio, Romeo's sidekick. And in this adaptation, the nurse is a frog (Ashley Jensen).

This chaotic, sparky and colourful kids film does surprisingly include some deeper elements. Featherstone, a pink plastic flamingo (the absurdity is deafening), looks back on their past, with a sombre Elton John song, ‘Love Builds a Garden’, orchestrating the pain of this flamingo. Showcasing a depressing sequence showing Featherstone’s lover being taken away in a moving van really tugs at a child's heartstrings. As an adult, it does provide some insight into relationships, ironically, as this is a plastic flamingo. 

Other critics are not enthused about the film. One reviewer states the film doesn’t follow the traditional tragic ending. I do wonder why? Time Out deemed the "lack of inspiration" in the film a 'tragedy'. The New York Times even went so far as to call the film "a discombobulated grab bag of comedy peopled with characters that have little emotional resonance" in their scathing review.

However, despite the negative reviews, the CGI imagery presented in the animation creates such a jovial viewing experience. These animated gnomes do provide a bittersweet joy, which I’m sure many adults will feel but refuse to tell. The voice acting pleasantly lends itself to the garden decor; James McAvoy and Emily Blunt provide excellent acting skills to a gnome, creating emotions in a lacklustre film.

Elton John, you are our only salvation. John lends his musical work to the film.' Tiny Dancer' and ‘Saturday Nights Alright (For Fighting)’, among others. Also, debuting a brand-new song, "Hello Hello," performed by John and Lady Gaga. His nomination for the 2012 Golden Globes for Best Original Song for a Motion Picture for this song alone helps save the film.

The inner child in me screams, go and watch this film. It's fun, quirky and almost euphoric as it fuels my nostalgia. However, as an adult, this gleeful film well and truly does not make any sense. If you’re looking for a more reputable and accurate depiction of Romeo and Juliet, this film is not for you.