Gnomeo and Juliet | C-

Director Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Spirit-Stallion of the Cimarron) has released his newest film Gnomeo and Juliet. The movie is a spinoff of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet — without the deaths to keep a G rating. There are occasional laughs and undeniable moments of cuteness, along with some adult undertones and clever Shakespearean references. Nevertheless, the film is far from remarkable, as it leans too heavily on a plot that is overused.

The film tells the story of Gnomeo Montague (James McAvoy, Atonement) and Juliet Capulet (Emily Blunt, The Devil Wears Prada), two lawn-crossed lovers who belong to rival groups of garden gnomes — the blue-headed Montagues and the red-headed Capulets. Each group tries to beat the other down by beautifying their own yards while sabotaging the yard of their rivals. As the feud intensifies, Gnomeo and Juliet wonder whether they will ever be able to avoid their tragic fate and live happily ever after.

Unfortunately, the gnomes are not the only things that are downsized in this film. Many complex parts of the original tragedy are sacrificed for banal goofs and gags. While this makes the story more appealing to children, sugarcoating comes at a price. The youth will not benefit from the intellectual dialogue and tragic elements that define the original play. Instead they are fed with lines like, "Shroom, let's go kick some grass," and other jokes that are neither particularly clever nor funny. There are charming parts here and there, but as the movie progresses, the humor wears off and it feels like the screenwriters are running out of ideas. The use of giggling gnomes and lawnmowers becomes repetitive, and it all spirals down into a weak, predictable ending.

The aesthetics are flawed as well. In order for the characters to behave in an appealing and convincing matter, the animators implement the squash and stretch principle in certain movements. The movements contradict the nature of the gnomes' plastered bodies. While watching the film, it is difficult to tell at times whether the gnomes are made of flesh or stone. Also, the characters look too uniform and lack distinctive personalities. This is no surprise, however, since there is little room for a character to develop in a limited script.

Overall Gnomeo and Juliet is a sweet and lighthearted film, but its charm is shallow at best. The movie is neither inspirational nor compelling and exists for a brief laugh.