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"GNOMEO & JULIET" (2011) (voices of James McAvoy, Emily Blunt) (G) QUICK TAKE: Animated Dramedy: In this modified version of "Romeo and Juliet," gnomes from opposing yard decoration collections end up falling for each other, but try to hide that from their family and friends due to the longstanding conflict between their groups. PLOT: In adjoining backyards of an English neighborhood, disparate groups of gnomes and other yard decorations are actually sentient beings that carry on with their lives whenever humans are not around. On one side are the "Reds," lead by gnome Lord Redbrick (voice of MICHAEL CAINE) who's quite protective of his daughter, Juliet (voice of EMILY BLUNT). Despite that, she's quite capable of handling herself and has a good friend in frog fountain figure Nanette (voice of ASHLEY JENSEN), while the likes of gnome Tybalt (voice of JASON STATHAM) are more interested in upstaging their rival "Blues" in events such as lawnmower drag races. The main blue racer is Gnomeo (voice of JAMES McAVOY), the dashing and adventurous son of Lady Bluebury (voice of MAGGIE SMITH) and friend to fellow gnome Benny (voice of MATT LUCAS). While in disguise to retrieve a coveted orchid at a nearby greenhouse, Gnomeo ends up meeting Juliet who's after the same thing and is similarly disguised. Due to their dress, they don't realize they're from rival groups and end up instantly smitten with each other. When they realize the other's true identity, they're shocked, but decide to continue seeing each other despite what their families and friends would say. During one of their clandestine meetings, they encounter plastic pink flamingo Featherstone (voice of JIM CUMMINGS) who's been locked inside a shed for years, but encourages their romance. As those on their respective sides continue trying to undermine their rivals, the young couple tries to keep their romance under wraps, but must contend with the discovery of that as well as the ramifications of the ever-intensifying feud between the groups. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? It's a good bet many younger ones might be enticed by the offering, especially since it looks somewhat similar to the "Toy Story" films. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G Apparently for not containing material to warrant a higher rating. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: It's debatable whether kids view animated, non-human characters as role models, but here's a quick summary of the major characteristics on display: GNOMEO is a dashing and adventurous gnome of the Reds, rivals to the Blues who live in the adjoining backyard. He drag races against Tybalt and generally doesn't like him and his kind, but finds his opinion changed when he meets and ends up falling for Juliet. He then tries to keep their budding romance a secret from everyone. JULIET plays the confident daughter of the leader of the Blues, a young gnome who wants to prove that she's capable of handling herself and others, and thus ventures out of the yard to retrieve a coveted orchid (which is when she meets Gnomeo). Like him, she initially doesn't like any of her rivals, but changes her tune upon meeting and falling for him. NANETTE plays her best friend, a fountain based frog who's supportive of her but ends up falling for the brainy figure Lord Redbrick initially chose as Juliet's suitor. LORD REDBRICK is that overprotective father to Juliet who doesn't realize she's not as delicate as he thinks. LADY BLUEBURY is Gnomeo's mother, leader of the Blues who misses her late husband and isn't happy about the actions of the Reds. BENNY is Gnomeo's best friend who helps him on a raid into the Red's yard where he spray paints various objects. He later causes damage in both yards when he loses control of a powerful lawnmower he covertly ordered. FEATHERSTONE is the plastic pink flamingo who befriends Gnomeo and Juliet when they free him, and he encourages their romance while longing for his long-lost love. TYBALT is Gnomeo's main rival who drag races against him and tries to harm him and Benny at various points. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this G-rated dramedy. Profanity consists of at least 1 minor expletive, while some colorful phrases are also uttered. A male gnome is occasionally seen in a "Borat" style swimsuit (pouch at the crotch connected to small suspenders over the shoulders, with a brief, mostly bare butt view), a human woman briefly sings some risqué song lyrics, and two characters nearly kiss several times (and finally complete that act). Violence consists of some animated gnome figures seemingly being killed (but they end up okay), some hitting and group-scale fighting, as well as instances of property damage. Some moments of peril might be unsettling and/or suspenseful for the youngest of viewers, while some of the behavior might be enticing for kids to try to imitate. Bad attitudes are present, as is tense family material. Some crude humor is also present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some bouncy POV footage of a dog bounding down the road, while there's other, more fluid camera movement from time to time in the film (and the 3D effect, where available, could exacerbate that). ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE None. BLOOD/GROSS STUFF From a distance, we see a fountain in the shape of a young boy or cherub urinating (with the water stream coming from the unseen penis). A character asks, "What is the meaning of all this constipation?" (presumably intending to say "consternation" or something else similar sounding). A large bulldog drools onto Gnomeo. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Two human next-door neighbors (a man and woman) don't get along and often bicker and trade insults with each other. As a result, or just by coincidence, their respective gnomes and other yard decorations don't get along either, and that continues through the film (including fighting and more) until the very end. Benny spray-paints various things in the Reds' yard. We see that the Reds have destroyed a plant display the Blues had in a toilet sitting in the backyard (and which had sentimental value to Lady Blueberry as connected to her late husband). As Benny tries to run across an alley or road, Tybalt aims his lawnmower at him and tries to run over the gnome. As he gets close, however, he uses his shovel to hit Benny's head, breaking off his ceramic hat (and thus the top of his head, but he's still alive and apparently no worse for the wear). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to very young viewers but probably few others. As Juliet opens a wooden fence gate to leave the yard, a large bulldog's menacing head is right there. Juliet ends up accidentally breaking and falling through a glass panel in a greenhouse's ceiling and briefly dangles, but is okay. Gnomeo and Juliet enter a dimly lit shed and there's some brief suspense for a moment, with them rushing out when they hear a voice. Gnomeo grabs what looks like a stick and announces he has a loaded weapon, but the voice ends up belonging to Featherstone (a pink flamingo) and the stick is actually the bird's long-missing leg. As Benny tries to run across an alley or road, Tybalt aims his lawnmower at him and tries to run over the gnome. As he gets close, however, he uses his shovel to hit Benny's head, breaking off his ceramic hat (and thus the top of his head, but he's still alive and apparently no worse for the wear). To retaliate, Gnomeo attacks Tybalt on that lawnmower and tries to hit him, eventually disarming Tybalt of his shovel. Tybalt then feigns helplessness, thus causing Gnomeo to drop his guard. Tybalt then grabs Gnomeo and tries to push his head down onto the road as the lawnmower zips along. What he doesn't see, however, is the quickly approaching wall. Gnomeo does and jumps off, with the lawnmower then hitting something and sending Tybalt airborne toward the wall. We hear but don't see the impact that shatters Tybalt (presumably killing him, but we later see him at the end of the movie glued back together, although one of his limbs falls off at that time). A Red figure repeatedly shoots small objects at Gnomeo as he flees and others chase him. They all freeze when they encounter a human woman, resulting in Gnomeo accidentally being bumped into the street. There are various close calls with vehicles passing by him. We then hear the sound of glass breaking, and everyone fears it's Gnomeo (we see the broken pieces, but then learn that it was a teacup that fell off a truck). A large bulldog picks up Gnomeo and races off with him. It then appears ready to bury him, so he flees through a tube, with the dog's menacing head being at one end of that. He then ends up in a bulldozer's large blade, but ends up okay. As Benny tries to order a lawn mower online, his bunny yard decoration companions try to warn him that the human owner is approaching as he hopes the order will finish (he hides and is not discovered). After ending up atop a statue of William Shakespeare, Gnomeo ends up accidentally falling off and heads a long way down toward the concrete. Fortunately for him, Featherstone gets under him just in time, allowing him to hit the plastic surface and not break. A massive and powerful lawn mower, that's now in auto mode, sets its sights on Juliet who's atop a tower where her feet have been glued. Gnomeo tries to rescue her as we see the mower go airborne and fly right at them. From a distance, and from the other side of the house we see the large plume of an explosion go off and then see the wreckage in the backyard from the contact. Everyone fears that Gnomeo and Juliet are dead, but both eventually emerge from the rubble. GUNS/WEAPONS Gnomeo carries a garden hose nozzle like a large gun while infiltrating the Reds' yard. Gnomeo and Juliet enter a dimly lit shed and there's some brief suspense for a moment, with them rushing out when they hear a voice. Gnomeo grabs what looks like a stick and announces he has a loaded weapon, but the voice ends up belonging to Featherstone (a pink flamingo) and the stick is actually the bird's long-missing leg. Gnomeo carries a pesticide sprayer like a gun. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Old hag," "Crabby old codger," "May he rest in pieces," "I don't like what you're incinerating" (instead of "insinuating"), "Sucker," "Adios, loser" (said while holding fingers to the forehead in the shape of the letter L), "Let's go kick some grass," "Damn you," "Junk in the trunk," "Get them, you idiots," "More like a pansy to me," "Shut up," "Zip it," "I wish I could quit you," "Oh my (what sounded like) giddy aunt," "Are you crazy?" "No mucking about," "You are insane in the brain," "Toodles," "What's up, button-head?" "Those blasted reds," "What is the meaning of all this constipation?" (instead of "consternation"), "Are you mad?" "Bring it on," "It's rubbish," "One word...plastic," "Oh blimey," "Witch" and "Nitwit." The action, stunts and more might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate. Juliet gets out of a tree using various acrobatic moves. Gnomeo and Tybalt drag race on lawn mowers. Gnomeo sports facial camouflage while infiltrating the Reds' yard. Benny spray-paints various things in the Reds' yard. An older human woman dances around her place singing to herself, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?" We see that Lord Redbrick has glued Juliet's feet to a pedestal to keep her from going anywhere. JUMP SCENES As Juliet opens a wooden fence gate to leave the yard, a large bulldog's menacing head is right there. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of adventurous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) An older human woman dances around her place singing to herself, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?" PROFANITY At least 1 damn. SEX/NUDITY A gnome narrator talks about the basic story and mentions something about loins, but is yanked off the stage before he can continue. When one character comments about another being illiterate, that man say he isn't as his parents were married (thinking she said illegitimate). A female figure (that starts a drag race between Gnomeo and Tybalt) wears a top that shows some cleavage. As Juliet puts on some human attire to disguise herself, Nanette jokes about her nice "junk in the trunk." Gnomeo and Juliet nearly kiss, but something they're standing on breaks and they fall away. Gnomeo and Juliet nearly kiss again, but can't reach each other's lips through a fence. An older human woman dances around her place singing to herself, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?" One yard figure wears a Borat type swimsuit (pouch at the crotch leading to two narrow suspenders over the shoulder). He's seen several times in that attire, including from behind where much of his bare butt is seen. Gnomeo and Juliet nearly kiss, but Benny walks in and interrupts them. Benny makes his way through a plumbing drain, into a clothes dryer, and then pops out of that, landing in the cup of an empty human bra. We see a female doll in a poofy dress and a bustier type top (that reveals bare belly). Juliet and Gnomeo kiss right as a massive and powerful lawn mower flies through the air toward them. Later, and now safe, they kiss again. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES About Gnomeo's late father, Lady Blueberry says, "May he rest in pieces." Lord Redbrick briefly comments on Juliet's mother being dead (for an undetermined amount of time). We see that the Reds have destroyed a plant display the Blues had in a toilet sitting in the backyard (and which had sentimental value to Lady Blueberry as connected to her late husband). We see a flashback montage to Featherstone's human owners going through the stages of love, to fighting, to splitting up and the wife moving out, taking Featherstone's partner with her (resulting in the husband throwing Featherstone into the shed where he stayed for many years). Gnomeo's mother believes (along with others) that he's been struck by a vehicle and killed. Gnomeo's mother and Juliet's father fear their kids have perished in an explosion and related rubble, but both end up okay. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Star-crossed lovers. The original "Romeo and Juliet" play on which this is based. The symbolism of the Red and Blue clans not getting along. Blind distaste and/or hatred toward others who aren't like you. Juliet wanting her father and others to know she isn't delicate as they think. Featherstone stating that other people's hate destroyed his love (for another pink flamingo). VIOLENCE Gnomeo and Tybalt drag race on lawn mowers. During that, Tybalt bumps Gnomeo's mower and then throws something that causes Gnomeo to crash. His mower ends up out in the street where a vehicle smashes into it (Gnomeo is safe). After that Tybalt hits one of the red gnomes. Gnomeo ends up flying back over into his yard, but crashes down through trees, lands on a branch that breaks, and then hits the leaf-covered ground hard (but is okay). We see that the Reds have destroyed a plant display the Blues had in a toilet sitting in the backyard (and which had sentimental value to Lady Blueberry as connected to her late husband). As Benny tries to run across an alley or road, Tybalt aims his lawnmower at him and tries to run over the gnome. As he gets close, however, he uses his shovel to hit Benny's head, breaking off his ceramic hat (and thus the top of his head, but he's still alive and apparently no worse for the wear). To retaliate, Gnomeo attacks Tybalt on that lawnmower and tries to hit him, eventually disarming Tybalt of his shovel. Tybalt then feigns helplessness, thus causing Gnomeo to drop his guard. Tybalt then grabs Gnomeo and tries to push his head down onto the road as the lawnmower zips along. What he doesn't see, however, is the quickly approaching wall. Gnomeo does and jumps off, with the lawnmower then hitting something and sending Tybalt airborne toward the wall. We hear but don't see the impact that shatters Tybalt (presumably killing him, but we later see him at the end of the movie glued back together, although one of his limbs falls off at that time). A Red figure repeatedly shoots small objects at Gnomeo as he flees and others chase him. They all freeze when they encounter a human woman, resulting in Gnomeo accidentally being bumped into the street. There are various close calls with vehicles passing by him. We then hear the sound of glass breaking, and everyone fears it's Gnomeo (we see the broken pieces, but then learn that it was a teacup that fell off a truck). Benny drives a massive and powerful lawn mower through the fence and into the Reds' yard, causing lots of property damage there, but he loses control and it returns to his yard, causing damage there as well. Figures on both sides then fire fruit or something similar at each other, with some being hit and splattered by that. A massive and powerful lawn mower, that's now in auto mode, sets its sights on Juliet who's atop a tower where her feet have been glued. Gnomeo tries to rescue her as we see the mower go airborne and fly right at them. From a distance, and from the other side of the house we see the large plume of an explosion go off and then see the wreckage in the backyard from the contact. Everyone fears that Gnomeo and Juliet are dead, but both eventually emerge from the rubble. Reviewed February 5, 2011 / Posted February 11, 2011