Gnomeo and Juliet (2011)

Honestly, the title is one of the worst things about this film. It is actually pretty clever. I did enjoy it so much more than I thought I would. But it is perfect? No, not at all. There were a few moments in the film where I was groaning, out loud. My groans could be heard in the other room, the film was so groan-inducing. But luckily, that only happened once or twice. And on the exact other end of the spectrum, there were a few moments in the film where I actually had some good, hard laughs. Those moments really make the film. They bring a sense of joy to a film that is kind of bland at times. And when the film isn’t groan-inducing or gut-bustlingly funny, it only has two other cards to play-a nice and charming take on one of the greatest stories of all time, and a really dull take on one of the greatest stories of all time. The film balances the good and the bad out 50/50. The film is a take on the classic story Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, but where the two main families are gnomes, owned by these two neighbors (in the houses 2B for one and 2B with the number crossed out for the other-2B and not 2B…get it? Get it?) that hate each other so much that their hate has transferred into their garden gnomes. You know the joke I mentioned earlier? The film is filled with those. Some of them hit the nail right on the head, and some are so clichéd or dull it made me want to scream. But, don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy this film. I thought it was a fun little kiddie flick. It really wasn’t the perfect film for me, but I do know a lot of people that love it (when I saw it on DVD with my little brother [him seeing it for the 2nd time], he was laughing like there was no tomorrow). If you have a young child or are a young child or know a young child, there are much worse things you could do than see Gnomeo and Juliet *cough*Hop*couch*. NOTE: The film is produced by Elton John, and the film is filled with Elton John songs, even when they don’t belong. I love Crocodile Rock, but dang. Songs belong where they belong. And here, they did not.
7.5/10