Imagine a world where Romeo and Juliet did
not say farewell. Imagine a different ending to one of the most famous
Shakespearian plays, not ending with two people dying in the name of
love.
In Touchstone’s new animated movie, “Gnomeo
and Juliet”, two little gnomes try to define what true love is by living
a life that reenacts William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Separated
by a long garden war, Blue and Red gnomes rage in a bitter battle over
who has the most beautiful garden.
What began as a simple quest to get the
Cupid’s orchid from a garden next door, Juliet, voiced by Emily Blunt,
leaves the Red garden. While she is trying to retrieve the flower she
bumps into someone very unexpectedly, Gnomeo, voiced by James McAvoy, a
gnome from the Blue Garden.
Debating whether or not she should even have
feelings for Gnomeo, Juliet talks to her friend Nanette, the garden
frog, to see what should be done. Eventually, Juliet decides love is
worth more than a gnome battle, due to Nanette telling her “her love is
dead. Her love is doomed.”
Because Juliet’s father, Lord Redbrick, has
no clue that Gnomeo and Juliet are secretly in love, he asks the
garden’s flower genius Paris to court Juliet. But, Juliet does not have
any feelings for him. Nanette steps in and she falls in love with Paris.
From there, it becomes harder for Gnomeo and
Juliet to encourage the war between Red and Blue to continue. Even after
the Blue’s most prized flower plant is destroyed, Gnomeo tries to stop
the war without giving up his secret and creating an even more confusing
battle between the two Gnome families.
Unlike the play’s constant dry dialogue, it
is more colorful and filled with life. It has many comical references to
the actual play with play on words.
This play continues to be brought to life by
Touchstone. Even though this is a story that has been told more than
once, this view was not dull or boring. Instead, the writers and
creators found a new way to brighten up the Shakespearean play and make
it extremely family friendly.
Throughout this movie, the conflict between
good and evil is even more relevant, and the message is that one’s love
should not be sacrificed based on what others think.
In this new twist to Romeo and Juliet,
Touchstone shows how there is always a happily ever after story no
matter what the situation is.
“Gnomeo and Juliet” is extremely fast paced
for an animated movie. The plot makes Shakespeare’s play more bearable,
even though there are several changes.
From a Christian worldview, the message to
put others before yourself is conveyed. Juliet personifies this message
when she is debating whether or not she should leave with Gnomeo. She
questions herself as to what would happen to her family, the Red garden,
and how her father would react if she did leave with a Blue Gnome.
She debated whether or not she should sacrifice her own happiness in order to please her father and others.
“Gnomeo and Juliet” is rated G for all ages,
but do not let the rating scare you. Even though it might seem as though
it would be a little too childish, this movie is worth it. It is worth a
night off from your homework to see this little cartoon.
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