Posted By Dennis Willis on Feb 11, 2011 |
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GNOMEO AND JULIET
(2/11/11; Animation, Comedy, 3D)
James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Jason Statham, Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Matt Lucas, Stephen Merchant, Ozzy Osbourne
SCR: Bobby Hill, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley, Mark Burton, Emily Cook, Kathy Greenberg, Steve Hamilton Shaw, Kelly Asbury
DIR: Kelly Asbury
MPAA: G
1 hour 24 mins
BOX: $97,287,563
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Because what the world really needed was Romeo and Juliet by way of garden gnomes, in 3D no less.
This movie is as bizarre as it sounds. It’s like Toy Story but with garden gnomes and warring statues in opposing yards, lawnmower races and Elton John’s Greatest Hits as the soundtrack. It’s funny, but is so filled with arcane pop culture references (Borat’s mankini) and winking nods to the source material (the gnomes live in the backyards of the, ahem Montague and Capulet households).
It begs the question: who does this movie exist for? Kids? Fans of Elton John? And I think the answer is: stoners. Because of all the films that have the potential to be made more visceral from an altered perspective, this shoots right to the top of the list. How can you go wrong with a lawnmower called the Terrafirminator, voiced by Hulk Hogan?
(Touchstone)
Author: Dennis Willis
Dennis Willis is an award-winning producer, TV host, producer, director, editor (he preferred Avid until a torrid affair with Adobe Premiere, and the rest is history), author and film critic (print and radio). Dennis produced and hosted the TV programs Reel Life, FilmTrip, Soundwaves (1983-2008) and produces the annual Soundwaves Xmas program. He is currently the film critic on KGO Radio in San Francisco, and a member of both the San Francisco Film Critics Circle and the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
