[7.25/10] Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)

Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)

Brief review: The fantastically-crafted animated feature, "Gnomeo & Juliet", knowingly follows the quintessential star-crossed lovers tragedy "Romeo and Juliet", with the unexpected twist of making the characters garden gnomes that can move when human beings aren't watching. "Shrek 2" director Kelly Asbury does the impossible - he takes on the overly well-known Shakespearean classic, and turns it into something completely original, utterly creative and absolutely hilarious, which certainly isn't an easy thing to do, so he deserves a credit for that. "Gnomeo & Juliet" moves along at brisk pace, without a single dull moment, with each scene being more engaging than the previous one. It entertains thoroughly through its amusing script, full of witty dialogues and clever jokes, and dazzles the eye with its gorgeous visuals. The animation, though not the slickest ever made, is wildly-vivid, rich in color and detail, and full of vibrant imagery. Each character is gorgeously-designed, and has its own distinctive look and (often quirky) personality. Wonderfully-voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, both Gnomeo and Juliet are incredibly likable, but it's Nanette, the garden frog, and Featherstone, the lonely pink flamingo, that steal the show.

Overall summary: Cute, witty and hugely enjoyable, "Gnomeo & Juliet" is a unique and totally refreshing take on a familiar story, that captivates with its creativity, delightful characters and dazzling visuals.