Gnomeo and Juliet - Movie Review



The movie title Gnomeo and Juliet makes it very obvious what this movie is about.  It is an animated comical version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

In the movie there are the Red Gnomes and the Blue Gnomes that hate each other. They live on opposite sides of a yard and only a picket fence separates these family rivals. The movie opens with a small gnome with a huge hat making fun of the fact that - YES! in fact - this is another re-making of Romeo and Juliet.

The gnomes come to life once their owners look away and that is when they begin fighting each other and sabotaging the other's gardens. There are some very funny characters like a fountain frog and a pink plastic flamingo, but the movie is very predictable. There a couple of funny scenes and some adult humor also. In one scene the frog (which is a girl) asks Juliet how big is it, Juliet then goes "oh his hat". She goes on to elaborate that it's the color blue. Which is the worst thing imaginable because Juliet is a Red.

There is also a half naked little gnome that pops up here and there. He is wearing a thong and his booty cheeks appear to be sunburned. I am not sure what the purpose of him is, if not just for laughs. This little gnome, like the pink flamigo, has a latin accent. The little thong gnome does skip around and sings in Spanish "Tengo un bonito par de coconuts" which translated means "I have a pretty pair of coconuts". Not sure if I was offended by that, but the kids didn't seem to get it, they just laughed because his bottom was exposed.

Another important piece of information is that Elton John is in the musical score. Also, when the frog falls in love with one of the gnomes as it sings to her, she invisions the gnome wearing Elton John attire and wearing Elton John's famous style in sun glasses.

Overall the I give the movie 5 out of 10 stars. SPOILER ALERT: Although the movie doesn't end in the tragedy that Romeo and Juliet is infamous for, it does emphasize that love is worth fighting for. It does touch upon the power of forgiveness and how vengence can lead to destruction. My son Rami gives it an 8 out of 10 stars and my daughter Sofi slept through the whole movie, so I don't think she has an opinion.

By the way - Apparently I have to pay for a children's ticket when I am taking a toddler of 2 1/2. I didn't know that.

I wouldnt go out and spend 20 dollars for the family to watch this movie. I would wait for the movie to come out on DVD or rent it at a RedBox.

Movie is rated: G

Length: 1 hour 24 minutes