Who’s doesn’t love garden gnomes? Ever since the Travelocity started doing commercials with the garden gnomes I can’t deny that I’m a fan. Of course the story of Romeo and Juliet has been told so many different ways, why not do it another way? The concept of Gnomeo and Juliet is the same Shakespeare tale only told in a garden-world.  The rivalry stems from the color of the gnome’s hats, blue and red. Blues and reds can not be together, why one might ask? Well, just like In Shakespeare that is something unexplained.  All of the gnomes complete to have the greatest garden display and it becomes a true battle between the blues and the reds. When in reality, this is all happening under the home-owners nose.

James McAvoy and Emily Blunt voice to the two star crossed lovers who have to face major obstacles in order to make their new found love work. McAvoy voices Gnomeo who is the ultimate heart-throb of the blue side. He’s cute, charming and knows how to race a lawnmower, what more could a gnome gal want?  Blunt voices the rebellious Juliet who is a red, she’s beautiful, brave and loving. It’s a match made in Gnome heaven.  Extra’s Ashley Jensen voices Juliet’s confidant frog friend Nanette who also has to keep their love a secret.

Sir Michael Cane voices Juliet’s father while Dame Maggie Smith voices Gnomeo’s mother. Also Patrick Stewart, Jason Statham, Julie Walters and Ozzy Osbourne also do voices for the family film.  That’s what makes this film so charming is that there are all these gnomes and garden creatures with these British accents. I can just imagine kids running out of the movie theater talking like Brit for weeks. So, a warning to all parents when you take your kids to see this movie and it may cause them to speak in a British accent.

While the film was telling a very cute tale, it also had a lovely musical accompaniment, Elton John. Throughout the film they intertwined some of his greatest hits. Which was lovely, but honestly a bit misleading. Usually, when a film is featuring music from an artist, particularly such a legendary one like Elton John, one would expect some new music. In this film that was unfortunately not the case.  Don’t me wrong the classic songs of Elton John like “Your song”, “Benny and the Jets” and “Crocodile Rock”, I cherish but I’ve heard them so many times before. It would have just been nice to hear some new music form such an amazing artist.

It would have added something extra as well because this is a story that has been told so many times it at least would have had something new. The songs while used well and in the right places in the film, made me feel like I was watching a jukebox musical. Love John’s music but if I want it listen to it, I’ll just get out my ipod. I know this was a new vision that they decided to take with this film but if it was such a new vision they should have used NEW music.

Overall, it’s a very lovely family film but more so for the kids. It will teach them not only the story of Romeo and Juliet but also that when it’s true love it doesn’t matter what color hat they are wearing.

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