Rating: 3/5
This intermittently charming animated offering from Disney relocates Shakespeare's famous love story to the secret world of garden gnomes, then adds Elton John music.
You'd expect a family-friendly Romeo & Juliet-inspired movie to smooth out some of the Bard's more tragic plot twists, but at least Gnomeo overtly acknowledges this fact. Once the initial amusement factor wears off, it's the points of difference that keep this moderately watchable, such as the British cast and setting, and a welcome dearth of talking animals. But the contributions of no less than 10 credited screenwriters (that's including Shakespeare) merely results in a string of groan-inducing gnome puns - "Who's your Gnomey?"
Kids should remain entertained throughout, but their parents' patience will be tested.
Rated: PG
Running time: 84 minutes
Out Thursday.
- Herald On Sunday / View
