Gnomeo & Juliet [Blu-ray + DVD]

Set in the gardens of fair Verona Drive, we witness the blossoming romance of two young gnomes, Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt), amidst a turf war between the reds and the blues. Between the high-speed lawnmower chases and stealth missions, hearts (and hats) are broken, loyalties are tested and garden boundaries drawn, but can true gnomance conquer all? When your best friends are an over-excitable frog, a lovelorn flamingo, a loyal mushroom, a team of Bond-esque bunnies and a dopey fawn, there’s a shedload of fun and adventure around every pot! The miniature monuments are voiced by massive household names including James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Matt Lucas, Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Stephen Merchant, Ashley Jensen, Jason Statham and Ozzy Osbourne to gnome a few! Featuring classic and original songs by Elton John and directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2) GNOMEO AND JULIET is a great love story……with a very small difference. From .co.uk ----------- It's the age-old story of forbidden love between feuding families, but Shakespeare's classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet becomes quite a comedy when the young lovers in question are different-coloured gnomes from backyards on site sides of a tall wooden fence. Lured out of their respective gardens by wanderlust and an exotic orchid, Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) meet and instantly fall in love. Their forbidden love blossoms with a little help from a plastic pink flamingo named Featherstone (Jim Cummings), and soon life-threatening lawnmower races ensue, an epic battle is staged, and wisteria trees and gnome hats are hacked to bits in the process. Shakespeare himself (Patrick Stewart) makes an appearance and declares that, while this story bears a marked resemblance to one of his own, he's not sure it will end in quite the same way. Shakespunian nuggets of wisdom include "A weed is by any other name, still a weed," and that fairness demands "a hat for a hat," and of course the philosophical question "What's in a gnome?" just has to be asked. Executive producer Elton John's penchant for over-the-top showmanship finds a perfect home in the gnomes' elaborate backyard sets, and his musical score is an effective blend of classic and original songs, including a new collaboration with Lady Gaga called "Hello, Hello." Other legendary musicians lending their talents to the voice cast include Dolly Parton and Ozzy Osbourne. This film is funny, engaging, and, with the possible exception of one particularly scantily clad gnome, appropriate for the whole family. (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

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