Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)

The neighboring gardens of Montague and Capulet are at war, but the gnomes, Gnomeo and Juliet, are in love.

Director:

Kelly Asbury

Writers:

Rob Sprackling (story), John R. Smith (story),

Stars:

James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James McAvoy	...	Gnomeo (voice)
Emily Blunt	...	Juliet (voice)
Ashley Jensen	...	Nanette (voice)
Michael Caine	...	Lord Redbrick (voice)
Matt Lucas	...	Benny (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Featherstone (voice)
Maggie Smith	...	Lady Bluebury (voice)
Jason Statham	...	Tybalt (voice)
Ozzy Osbourne	...	Fawn (voice)
Stephen Merchant	...	Paris (voice)
Patrick Stewart	...	Bill Shakespeare (voice)
Julie Walters	...	Miss Montague (voice)
Hulk Hogan	...	Terrafirminator V.O. (voice)
Kelly Asbury	...	Red Good Gnomes (voice)
Richard Wilson	...	Mr. Capulet (voice)

Storyline

Garden gnomes Gnomeo (voice of McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Blunt) have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

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Plot Keywords:

garden | gnome | flamingo | neighbor | love | 

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Taglines:

An epic tale on a tiny scale.

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 February 2011 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Gnomeo y Julieta

Box Office

Budget:

$85,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£2,945,627 (UK) (11 February 2011)

Gross:

$99,808,609 (USA) (17 June 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Rocket Pictures, Arc Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS Dolby (Dolby Surround 7.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ewan McGregor and Kate Winslet were once attached to star as Gnomeo and Juliet when the movie was initially announced.

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Goofs

When Featherstone starts to reflect on the memory of his mate, the female flamingo is on the left, however, when the moving van arrives to move the female, the female flamingo is on the right.

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Quotes

Juliet: Oh, Gnomeo, Gnomeo, are we really doomed to never see each other again? Why must you wear a blue hat? Why couldn't it be red like my father, or green like... like a leprechaun... or purple like, ummm, like some weird guy - I mean what's in a gnome? Because you are blue, my father sees red, and because I am red, I am feeling blue. Oh, at any rate that shouldn't be the thing to keep us apart, should it?
Gnomeo: No, no, it shouldn't! I couldn't have said it better myself!
Juliet: Oh, my giddy aunt, did you just ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The end credits come with animated backdrops.

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Connections

References Spider-Man (2002)

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Soundtracks

Hello Hello
Music by Elton John and Lady Gaga (as Stefani Germanotta)
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Performed by Elton John and Lady Gaga
Produced by Elton John and Matt Still
Elton John Appears Courtesy of Mercury Records Limited
Lady Gaga Appears Courtesy of Streamline/KON LIVE/Interscope Records

User Reviews

Was pleasantly surprised

Gnomeo and Juliet is the latest re-imagining of Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet . I will admit that I didn't go into this film with high hopes, but while its not an instant classic, I was pleasantly surprised.

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean...

The film begins with an amusing homage to these lines, before we really get into it. The garden gnomes of two neighbouring backyards, the Red Gnomes and the Blue Gnomes, have an ongoing rivalry as to who's garden is best. They constantly try to sabotage each other and dislike each other immensely. After a lawnmower race in which Tybalt the Red gnome (voice of Jason Statham) beats the Blue gnome Gnomeo (voice of James McAvoy), Gnomeo and sidekick Benny decide to sneak in by night and vandalise the Red's garden. Meanwhile Juliet (Emily Blunt), protected and thought too fragile by her father Lord Redbrick, is desperate to prove she is otherwise. Gnomeo and Juliet meet, and the rest is history as they say.

Of course, the film can't follow the original play exactly - this is a kids movie! It's not a tragedy, it's a comedy. This is where I expected to be let down - I honestly didn't think I would find it funny, but I'm glad to say for the most part, I found this film charming and funny. It could have been funnier, but the younger audience will love it, which is the important thing I suppose.

Shakespeare fans will have fun spotting the little references to the Bard's works (including a cleverly worked in quote from Macbeth of all plays). I did. For instance, the owner of the Blue Gnomes is Miss Montague (Romeo's family in the play), while the owner of the Red's is Mr. Capulet (Juliet's last name). The owners themselves hate each other. Spotting the celebrity voices is fun too. Michael Caine is Lord Redbrick, Maggie Smith is Lady Bluebury (I didn't notice this) - I particularly enjoyed Patrick Stewarts brief appearance as a statue of Shakespeare, with whom Gnomeo has a brief conversation. Shakespeare was a smug guy. The voices were all well cast, and the animation is of a good quality.

Complimented with a fun Elton John soundtrack (he was an executive producer, go figure), this film is enjoyable, and a good one for the kiddilinks.