GNOMEO AND JULIET

UK, 2011, 84 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: James Mc Avoy, Emily Blunt, Ashley Jenson, Michael Caine, Matt Lucas, Jim Cummings, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, Ozzy Osborne, Stephen Merchant, Patrick Stewart, Julie Walters, Hulk Hogan, Kelly Asbury, Richard Wilson.
Directed by Kelly Asbury.

The only little girl in the very small audience one Thursday afternoon was obviously caught up with the drama of the modern Montagues and Capulets (the human neighbours and the Blues and the Reds, their gnome equivalents) that at one stage she wondered out loud where was Gnomeo. This time the littlies might enjoy a variation on Shakespeare while those a bit older might hesitate: garden gnomes?. After all, the characters (except for some humans now and then) 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.

Anyone wondering about this transposition of 17th century tragedy to modern suburbia may enjoy the discussion between Gnomeo and the statue of Shakespeare in the park (voiced by Patrick Stewart) with Gnomeo who is, naturally, wanting to be re-united with Juliet, dismayed while the bard argues in favour of his own death-centred drama. When it seems that the end is tragic, Shakespeare nods, ‘Told you so!’.

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 this film more enjoyable for film buffs is the strong voice cast. (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.) James Mc Avoy 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.

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.

1. A variation on the Toy Story theme? With Shakespeare? Gnomes alive? Humans in the background?

2. Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, his appearance, the talking statue, the conversation with Gnomeo, the discussions about the plot of his play, the sad ending – the explosion and Shakespeare’s reaction?

3. The age of the audience, children, adults? Gnomes, romance, clashes and feuds, dangers, reconciliation, the happy ending?

4. The quality of the voice cast?

5. The use of Shakespeare’s story, the humans and their houses, the nasty adults, the Montagues and the Capulets? The gnomes and their point of view on the adults? The gnomes and their adult behaviour, skating, in the houses, computers…?

6. An Elton John production? The range of songs and selections from them?

7. The style of animation, bright colours, the gardens, the gnomes, Reds and Blues? The action sequences? The expressions of the gnomes?

8. The Reds and the Blues and their rivalries, the different gardens, the gnomes and their poses, their talks and their clashes?

9. Gnomeo and the Blues, Tybalt, the attacks, Gnomeo seeing Juliet, falling in love, their time together?

10. Juliet and her father, being anti the Blues? Paris and the Reds?

11. The clash of the gnomes, the smashing of the heads, assuming their poses when people were looking? The street and their dangers, Benny and his vengeance, the ordering by computer of the Terrafirminator? Its arrival, monstrous, the set-up? The rabbits helping – and their warnings?

12. Gnomeo’s mother, her wanting vengeance, thinking her son was dead, rounding up the troops, the attack?

13. Juliet and her father, his gluing her to her stand, the punishment, Gnomeo seeing her?

14. The shrim, the stork, coming to the rescue?

15. The character of Shakespeare, the statue in the park, the bus going to Stratford-on-Avon?

16. The war, the parents realising what had happened, the reappearance of Gnomeo, the happy ending?

17. Everybody taking their bow – and Elton John’s songs? Emphasising the perennial popularity of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?